Struggling Nick Dougherty made of mockery of his horror season to snatch a two-stroke lead on the opening day of the Omega European Masters in Switzerland.
The 28-year old Englishman arrived in Swiss Alps having missed the cut in all 20 tournaments this year and also plunging to 791st in the world rankings.
Nick Dougherty sets about untangling himself after a horror start to his 2011 season. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
In fact, of all the 379 players to have competed on the European Tour this year, Dougherty is the only player not to have made a single cent.
His eight under par 63 is a lowest round since his last Tour success in posting a last day 64 to capture the 2009 BMW International Open.
It’s been left to his SKY Sports new wife, Di to boost the income of the Dougherty’s.
And in an ironic twist it was a very nervous but delighted Di Dougherty, who has the task of interviewing her husband.
“It feels great to shoot a 63 as I have not had a lot to be happy about,” he said.
“It’s been tough coming home and having to deal with constant disappointment. Today was more like it should be.
“I had good signs last week at Gleneagles and eight under par is some bounce back, but then I like to be a bit dramatic when I do things as you well know Di.
“You also have had to take the brunt of it, unfortunately, and you’ve had to put up with me but then when you’ve had such a bad run as I’ve had, it’s difficult to find positives.”
However in a statement to define the much-liked Liverpudlian, Dougherty declared not for a moment had he thought of throwing in the towel.
“I was never going to walk away from the game, as it is not in me to quit,” he said.
“I certainly felt like I may have lost it because I had just run out of answers. Every week you think you’ve hit rock bottom but then you prove yourself wrong the next week.”
Four players, reigning U.S. Open champion, Rory McIlroy, former PGA winner, Martin Kaymer, England’s Gary Boyd and Korean Sung Lee, are tied in second place on six under par after 65s on the Crans-sur-Sierre course.
Boyd was a late arrival after sleeping through his alarm on Tuesday morning and missing his Geneva flight.
And with the 2012 Ryder Cup qualifying process under way, European captain, Jose Maria Olazabal was pleased to also see World No. 2 Lee Westwood and Open Champion Darren Clarke already well placed on four under par.
“It’s great for me that the Ryder Cup qualifying has finally started, and while there is a very long way to go, it’s good to have some of the big guys up there so quickly,” said Olazabal after his 75.
“At least players like Martin, Rory, Lee, Darren and the Molinari’s are a here and they are making a point with regards to the Ryder Cup.”
