Special report on the rise of Nick Dougherty

SHAW Hill starlet Nick Dougherty will be sad to see the back of 1999 after taking the world of junior golf by storm.

Former Blackburn QEGS pupil Dougherty has conquered Europe, America and the world during a sensational season, emulating the achievements of Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia at junior level along the way.

The World Boys title, the Canon European Under 21 crown and the Polo Ralph Lauren Golf Classic are just a few of the trophies which currently adorn his mantelpiece.

But the quiet, unassuming Lancastrian is now hoping to emulate his heroes on the mens' circuit in the next Millennium thanks to the help of mentor Nick Faldo.

Dougherty has close links with Britain's most successful golfer. And he is hoping his five-month sabbatical at the Faldo Institute in the United States will provide a valuable grounding for his twin assault on the British Amateur title and a place in the England Mens' team next year.

"Being in America is a massive help because you can get so much more practice in over the winter because of the warmer weather," said Dougherty.

"I'm playing in tournaments this year which should also help to keep my eye in.

"And the chance to work with Nick is brilliant because he's the person I look up to."

Dougherty spent the whole of last winter at the Faldo Institute but even he was shocked at the amazing impact it had on his game this year.

The unassuming Lancastrian had focused his attention on winning the English Boys title at the beginning of the season. But his achievements over the summer totally eclipsed even his wildest dreams.

The World Junior Boys Championship in Japan proved the catalyst. Dougherty captained England to their second successive team title but also lifted the individual crown in the process.

He then led England to the European Boys team title a month later.

Later in the summer he followed in the footsteps of Garcia by claiming the Canon European Under 21 title.

And to cap an amazing couple of months, he became the Faldo Series Champion for the second time at The Belfry in September.

"The main thing that has pleased me has been the consistency," said Dougherty.

"I had set my sights on the McEvoy at the start of the summer but winning the world title blew that away. And then winning the Faldo Junior Series was also important because obviously I know Nick and it makes the links stronger.

"So I've managed to win Nick's and Seve Ballesteros's tournaments in the same summer, because it was Seve who set up the Canon European."

Dougherty's relentless purge on junior golf has not stopped since he crossed the Atlantic either.

Last month, he added his name to a list of previous winners including Tiger Woods when he lifted the American Junior Golf Association Polo Classic at the Palm and Magnolia Golf Club. Dougherty beat the likes of US number 3 Ty Tyrone - reckoned by many to be the next Tiger Woods - on his way to becoming the first European for 25 years to claim the title.

Yet despite his staggering progress over the last 12 months, Dougherty is not getting carried away by his phenomenal success.

And with the help of Faldo, he hopes to do a bit more fine tuning over the coming months.

Particular attention will be paid to his short game.

But he is also planning to work on the mental and physical aspects of his armoury after similar work last year paid spectacular dividends.

"You wouldn't think fitness is such a big deal in golf because all you've got to do is walk," said Dougherty.

"But you've got to be in a situation where you finish 18 holes and feel like you can do another 18 because your concentration is affected if your stamina levels drop.

"My short game also needs some work.

"Everyone can hit it off the tees but the scoring is done around the greens.

"Those little tap ins are worth the same as a 270 yard drive.

"When I played against Garcia last year I was always inside him on the greens for instance.

"But his short game was fantastic and that was the difference. That's why he's already made it to the top."

It's Dougherty's dream to emulate the Spaniard one day after getting a taste of the professional scene in the British Masters at Woburn in the summer.

But, unlike his former England Boys colleague Jason Rose, he is adamant he will not relinquish his amateur status until he is ready. "Amateur golf is great and it's fantastic to play in," said Dougherty.

"But you need money because it costs about £7000 a year to enter all these competitions and do all the travelling.

"So you need to turn professional if golf is going to be your career.

"But I'm not going to rush into it.

"It's probably going to be two years yet, or maybe more."

In the mean time, next year's British Amateur Championships and a place in the England Mens' team remain his priority.

And he also has an eye on the next Walker Cup.

"It's getting harder and harder to be the best because everyone is doing the same things.

"But I just want to keep improving because, if I get better every year, then eventually I'm going to reach the top."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.