Ever-popular Nick Dougherty showed glimpses of the man who won three European Tour titles in the space of four years at the Challenge Tour’s Northern Ireland Open presented by Clannah and XJET with a fine opening round of five under par 66.
Dougherty is the first to admit he has seen the very depths of despair over the past two years as he lost control of his game. But, having completely rebuilt his swing with coach Stuart Gordon over the past year, Dougherty is a golfer reborn with a simple mission – to get back to the top of the game a better player than he ever was.
Nick Dougherty on route to a first round 66 in the Northern Ireland Open. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)
Actions speak louder than words and Dougherty’s seven birdies, nine pars and two bogeys around the excellent Galgorm Castle Golf Club certainly gave weight to his belief that he is on the right path.
The 31 year old England golfer trails fellow countryman James Ruth and Germany’s Bernd Ritthammer by two after round one but was delighted to be talking about a positive round of golf.
“I think everyone knows how low I got,” admitted Dougherty. “I mean, at the end of last year, I just didn’t know what I was doing. That leads you to then question if you actually want to play the game anymore and why you want to play the game.
“Once I had answered those questions then I started to work on completely relearning the game. Thanks to Stuart, every aspect of the swing has changed and my concept of the golf swing has completely changed.
“That is one of the most difficult things to do because it meant forgetting everything I ever knew about the game. It meant forgetting the wins and the good times too, because they were associated with the old swing so it has been a pretty tough journey.
“But I really believe in what I am doing and today was another little step. It wasn’t perfect out there by any means, but my belief in what I am doing strengthens every day I play with a card in my hand and scores like today are proof to me that what I am doing is right.”
Dougherty is part of a six-strong group of players on five under, among them former Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson – another player looking to rebuild his career on the Challenge Tour.
The Northern Ireland Open’s tournament ambassador Michael Hoey carded a one under 70, while one of the rounds of the day came from young Northern Irishman Dermot McElroy, who shot a fine 67 to lie just three strokes off the lead.
Leading Complete Round One Scores:
64 J Ruth (Eng); B Ritthammer (Ger);
65 J Dantorp (Swe); M McGeady (Irl); D Huizing (Ned); R McGowan (Eng); A McArthur (Sco);
66 A Johnston (Eng); R Kellett (Sco); O Wilson (Eng); T Nørret (Den); N Dougherty (Eng); J McLeary (Sco); T Pilkadaris (Aus);
* Many thanks to www.europeantour.com
