Faldo text inspires Dougherty

Nick Dougherty has revealed how a text message from mentor Nick Faldo gave him the confidence he needed to win his first European Tour tournament.

The graduate of the Nick Faldo Junior Series, claimed his maiden victory at the Caltex Masters in Singapore.

But victory was far from assured as he began his final round with Colin Montgomerie and Thomas Bjorn just two shots behind as he teed off.

However, a message from Faldo – in between good luck calls from his father and his grandmother – was just the inspiration the 22-year-old needed and he went on to win by five shots.

“He (Faldo) just told me to visualise each shot, commit to each shot and be determined with every action I take,” said Dougherty. “His whole thing was staying in the moment with my own golf game.

“I think he was well aware that it would be easy to get carried away, especially if Monty or Thomas had thrown a few birdies at me.

“But it felt great and even if it had been a blank text, for Nick to text me and know he was keeping an eye on me was a nice feeling.”

A final round 67 at the Laguna National Golf and Country club ensured victory at 18 under par, with last year’s winner Montgomerie settling for a share of second place with Holland’s Maarten Lafeber.

Bjorn, who completed the showpiece final three ball with Dougherty and Montgomerie, took fourth place on 11 under par after his closing 72.

Ireland’s Peter Lawrie and Lee Westwood were among the chasing pack at eight under but the attention centred on Dougherty, who was staggered by his success.

“I am still a little shellshocked but it was picture perfect I suppose,” said Dougherty, who moved to second on the European Tour Order of Merit with €163,148.

Dougherty was still in front at the turn while Bjorn’s challenge had fallen away with a double bogey at the second.

Three birdies on the back nine revived the Dane’s hopes but a double bogey after finding water at the short 17th ended his chances of victory.

That left Montgomerie and Dougherty to battle it out over the final four holes and, when the seven-time European number one birdied the 15th, the Englishman’s lead had been whittled down to one shot.

The pressure looked to have taken its toll on the 16th when Dougherty pulled his drive into a bunker while Montgomerie’s ball sailed a course down the centre of the fairway.

However, because of the large wooden sleepers in the face of the bunker, Dougherty was allowed a free drop up on top out of the trap from where he bashed to within three feet of the pin.

Had he been in the sand, he would not have been allowed the drop but because his ball had skirted through the bunker and come to rest on the grass in front of the sleepers, he was allowed to take the drop under a local rule.

The ruling turned the tournament decisively in Dougherty’s favour as he rolled in a birdie while Montgomerie three-putted for a bogey five.

The Scot could then only manage par on the 17th and bogeyed the last as Dougherty sealed victory with a closing birdie.