Nick Dougherty Biography

Nick Dougherty was born in Bootle, Merseyside on 24th May 1982. A protégé of Nick Faldo he had an exceptional amateur career with numerous tournament wins including the 1999 World Boys Championship and three Faldo Junior Series events. In 2001 he was a member of the victorious Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team. He turned professional in 2001.

Dougherty gained membership of the European Tour for 2002 via the final qualifying school. In his first season he finished 36th on the Order of Merit, and was named the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year. In 2003 his performance was affected by glandular fever, and his 2004 season was also disappointing as he slipped to 97th on the Order of Merit. He achieved his first win on the European Tour at the 2005 Caltex Masters in Singapore, and ended the year in 15th place on the final European Tour Order of Merit. He made a positive start to the 2006 season before struggling later in the year.

In 2007 Dougherty was back on form and was the leader after the first round of the 107th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club with a two under par round of 68. He finished the tournament in a tie for seventh place. It is his best finish to date in a major championship, and was enough to gain automatic entry into the following years championship and the U.S. Masters. Later that year he secured his second European Tour victory at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, and finished the season placed 11th on the Order of Merit.

Dougherty had a disappointing 2008 season, marred by the sudden death of his mother. In 2009 he made his way back into the winner’s enclosure with an outstanding victory at the BMW International Open in Munich, his third European Tour title and arguably his most important after rediscovering his best form.