Golf: Singing the praises of Old Nick

If Nick Faldo ever needs someone to write a character reference, he need look no further than young English hotshot Nick Dougherty.

Ask Dougherty about the influence of the six-time major champion on his burgeoning career, then nip out, jog round the block, make a cup of tea and when you come back he'll still be roaring out the chorus of For He's A Jolly Good Fellow.

A quick peak at the 22-year-old's resume shows why he puts the fickle Faldo somewhere just to the right of God, perhaps even nudging the Big Man out of his seat.

Faldo has been mentor to Dougherty, who sits second on this year's European Tour Order of Merit, since the likely Liverpool lad was 15.

When Dougherty won his maiden Tour event, the Caltex Masters in Singapore last weekend, his final round on a memorable day was bookended by Faldo text messages.

"I got a really nice message before the round. He told me to stay in the moment and commit to every shot.

"If he'd sent me a blind text it would have meant just as much to know he was watching, keeping an eye on how I was doing.

"He sent me one when I finished. His advice was to make sure to keep both feet on the ground, and he signed off Grandad Nick."

Faldo has not been everyone's cup of tea down the years. In his prime, his tongue could be cutting, his sense of humour not universally appreciated.

After winning the British Open in 1992, Faldo, having thanked all and sundry "from the bottom of my heart", thanked the media "from the heart of my bottom", which, if you don't take life too seriously, is quite funny.

"He's a great guy, a very misunderstood man in many ways," Dougherty said. "He has a fantastic sense of humour. I get on great with him."

The relationship goes back to the three years Dougherty won a Faldo-sponsored junior series in England.

"He's taught me everything, about course management - at that stage I hadn't done anything about that - fitness and mental aspects of the game.

"Also, being British, having him as a mentor - probably the most famous sportsman in Britain, definitely the most famous golfer - you couldn't wish for more as a junior.

"He's a guy who's really been there, done that, he really has got the t-shirt."

Dougherty, rookie of the year on the European circuit in 2002, can't wait to get to Gulf Harbour for next week's Holden-sponsored New Zealand Open.

Given the rich vein of form he's in, that's no surprise.

He tied for fourth at the South African Airways Open the week before his triumph in Singapore. There, Dougherty posted an 18-under score, and held off European heavyweights Colin Montgomerie and Thomas Bjorn over the final two rounds to win by five shots, showing the right nerve to go with shotmaking ability to pocket $233,000.

"It was awesome, it's like a monkey off my back. I played great golf on four consecutive days. I was very proud of myself.

"To pull through like that against players of that calibre always builds your confidence. It got very tight [Dougherty led by a solitary shot a few holes from the finish] and the way I finished the job off ... having done it once I'm sure if I found myself in the same position I would have the belief I could do it again."

Dougherty admits a "massive interest" in all sports. He loved his rugby, played it at school but discovered golf and rugby don't go together. "One had to go and I was a lot better at golf."

But work this out: born in Liverpool, educated in Blackburn, but a Manchester United supporter?

"I didn't like Blackburn Rovers and Man United were the only team who were beating Blackburn at the time. So I was a gloryhunter when I got into the football.

"That's my excuse. But I don't parade it around when I'm in Liverpool, not if I want to live through it," he laughed.

Ask Dougherty about his ambitions and the usual suspects pop up: making the European Ryder Cup team, winning a major championship. But he knows you don't achieve your ambitions without putting in the hours.

"You've got to do it one step at a time. Building blocks. You can try to think ahead of yourself, but looking at the end result is not the quickest way to get there.

"You win one, you try and win the next one.

"It's all towards the end goal, winning a major.

"That's why I took up the game and it's what you dream about at night."

Nick Dougherty

Born: Liverpool, May 24, 1982
Educated: Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Blackburn
Member of winning Britain and Ireland Walker Cup amateur team, 2001
Turned pro following week and named European Tour Rookie of the Year in 2002
European Tour wins: Caltex Masters, Singapore last Sunday
Lies second on Tour Order of Merit
2005 winnings: 163,000