Crestfallen Nick Dougherty declared he’s lookig forward to this week’s ‘dreaded Tour School’.

Dougherty takes a step back in time in a bid to extend his long tenure on The European Tour.

Nick Dougherty in happier times as 2008 Dunhill Links Champion.

The affable Englishman, who’s wife Di, shocked most observers by quitting her job as a former Sky Sports presenter, has also made the trip to PGA Catalunya Resort in Spain to support her husband of nearly a year.

It’s been 10 years since the Liverpool golfer was last at Tour School

That was in 2001 when the then-19 year old and victorious GB & I Walker Cup star cruised through the Final finishing third behind Sweden’s Johan Sköld to earn a European Tour card a mere matter of months after joining the professional ranks.

However a decade on and the three-time European Tour champion has been forced back to the School after a wretched 2011 when he made just one cut from 32 events and finishing the year in 282nd on the Race to Dubai money list.

All up, Dougherty earned just €10,600 in prize money.

However to his enormous credit Dougherty is taking a philosophical approach to his week’s work in Girona, northern Spain, where a top 30 finish will secure him a place on The 2012 European Tour International Schedule.       

“Last time I was at Qualifying School wasn’t stressful at all, and I loved every minute of it and just being there was a bonus for me at that stage in my career,” he said.

“The emotions are obviously a bit different coming back here ten years later, but it’s still only a golf tournament. 

“It’s often referred to as the dreaded Tour School, but we’re only here to play golf – it’s like we’re expected to find a cure for cancer this week!

“But now that I am here, I’m going to do everything I can to make it a successful week.

“Obviously in an ideal world I would’ve played well enough to have kept my card, but the reality is that I didn’t play anywhere near well enough.”

By his own admission, just one cut all season has had a debilitating effect on Dougherty’s confidence levels; but the likeable Liverpudlian is determined to reverse his recent fortunes through a mixture of hard work, determination and sheer bloody-mindedness.     

He said: “Things can turn around quickly in this game. There are still some technical issues I need to address going forward, but all my focus this week has to be on playing the best I possibly can. I’ve really struggled all year to keep the ball in play, but if I can do that this week, then I’ll give myself a good chance. 

“Things haven’t gone my way this year and of course it’s been very tough at times, but there’s no point feeling sorry for yourself in this game. You’ve just got to keep plugging away and hoping you turn the corner. If I can play well here this week and build some confidence, it could be the start of good things for me again.”

* Thanks to the European Tour for the details of this story.