NICK Dougherty's career is set to pick up pace in 2003 - but on the course the Chorley golfer just wants to slow things down.

While his first few manic months on the European Tour sprinkled with generous helpings of TV interviews and glossy magazine features, the 20-year-old is seeing the reality of being one of the game's hottest prospects - as his scores get lower his profile gets higher.

Yet he has revealed that his golf in the first few months of the tour has been "solid but not spectacular" as he strives for the consistency to make it to the top.

This means actually spending less time thrashing about the frantic fairways of tournament golf and taking time out to finely tune his game.

It's such clear thinking and sensible assessment of his own progress that has already drawn comparisons with Nick Faldo, Dougherty's friend and mentor.

With a few days off before jetting out to Portugal to resume the tour this week, the former world junior champion has been back in his native Lancashire reflecting on his ambitions for the season.

Doherty said: "I want to build a repetoire of shots and a golf game that makes me a great player.

"I need to be a little bit more patient with the golf courses this year so I can be more consistent.

"I don't think I need to do a lot different but my game is evolving. Through the year I want to get better and better and make less and less mistakes.

"I played too much last year, maybe because it was my first as a pro so this time I'm going to make sure I have breaks.

"There's no quick fix, I have to just keep it going and thinking right so that my game gets better.

"These things take time and I want to manufacture a game that reflects on big tournaments."

Nick is using the tour as a yardstick for the temperament he wants to build to see him though the major prizes that are on offer to him this year like the Volvo PGA Masters and a place in the Open.

So while the early leg of the tour hasn't yielded a victory, there also haven't been any disasters to get Doherty down either.

He added: "I've made all the cuts and that's important. I played well in Singapore and was very solid in Perth then I was fourth going into the final day in Sydney.

"I ended up 16th but I played well and usually do in Australia. It's great to play in places that you love and I had two weeks off while I was in Sydney so that was a nice break."

Doherty was then 18th in Dubai and 23rd in Qatar, admitting: "It's nothing special but the consistency is there so that's what's pleasing."

After taking a break in his native Lancashire before jetting out to Portugal, Doherty will prove just how seriously he takes his vow to rest this year when he sits out the Italian Open in early May.

He said: "It's not that big a tournament. They are all good but you can't play them all.

"You have to pick courses and the places you know you like playing."

The Algarve Portuguese Open starts today and Doherty and his fellow competitors will be relieved to see a good weather forecast.

Last year high winds and torrential rain meant only two rounds were possible at Vale do Lobo, where 11 players retired, three failed to break 90 and the halfway cut of 153 - nine over par - was the highest of the entire season.