Nick Dougherty ensured himself a first pay cheque this year after ending a horror run of 22 straight missed cuts but then had to borrow 20 Swiss Francs off his TV presenter wife.
Dougherty posted an Omega European Masters second round one over par 72 to remain in contention at seven-under par on the Crans-sur-Sierre course.
Four players – US Open champ, Rory McIlroy (69), Welshman Jamie Donaldson (66) and the England pair of Gary Boyd (69) and recent Irish Open winner Simon Dyson (68).
Five others, among them Dougherty and World No. 5 Martin Kaymer (70) are just one stroke further back, and in turn one clear of nine players including World No. 2 Lee Westwood (69), Gleneagles champ Thomas Bjorn (68) and Bathgate’s Stephen Gallacher (66) at six under par.
If Kaymer or McIlroy were to win this week there’s the strong chance of the extra prize of becoming World No. 3.
Nick Dougherty no longer has to bite his bottom lip after ending horror run of outs this season. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
Dougherty, 29 hasn’t banked a prize cheque since collecting Euro 41,292 in finishing 25th in last November’s Barclays Singapore Open.
Since then the three-time Tour champion has missed the cut in every tournament he’s contested.
Now the Liverpudlian, who was married in St. Andrews last New Year’s Eve, is well placed to pull off £296,000 first prize cheque.
But after handing in his scorecard, and then being interviewed by his SKY Sports wife, Di Dougherty, he had to ask his wife for a loan of the money.
After posting an opening 63, Dougherty’s second round was a mix of three birdies but also four bogeys.
“It’s the worst feeling just trying to make the cut and it’s probably easier to win a tournament,” he said.
“Every time I won a tournament, I never felt that pressured.
“But I felt a real failure going home on Friday night when you wife is on the last tee every Sunday.
“I felt like a spare part hanging around until Sunday.”
McIlroy struggled on the greens like most players in the afternoon half of the draw, and unlike Ernie Els , who has stuck with a 2004 promise and since not returned to the course, was very diplomatic in his comments.
“There’s lot of traffic on the greens around this time of the day and they’re also start to seeding but then they really get you thinking a lot more,” said McIlroy.
“They’re very much like the greens at Pebble Beach early in the year and then in May at Wentworth, and you just have to deal with them.
“But then we can’t complain as we get spoilt for about 75% of the year, as we play on perfect greens.”
McIlroy highlighted his round early when he drove the 314-metre par four, fifth hole and with his ball landing three feet from the flag an eagle two.
