Dougherty flees to Florida

Dougherty: Pulled out of Spanish Open

England’s Nick Dougherty has pulled out of the Spanish Open and flown to Florida in a desperate attempt to improve his game.

The 28-year-old muddled his way to a maddening 10-over-par 82 in the second round of the Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea.

Dougherty has managed a sub-70 only once this season, and has seen his world ranking plummet from 46 in 2008, to 506. His rocky performance in South Korea marks his fourth round in the 80s since December.

An unfortunate slip in the shower caused the Liverpudlian to pull out of two events in February, while he was struck down by a nasty bout of food poisoning on his return to competition.

Pointers

He has dropped 131 places since February when his spot at 275 caused him to joke “the only way is up”.

Dougherty’s two-year exemption for winning the BMW International Open in Germany expires at the end of this season.

“I have been talking to my dad, picking his brains about the basics he taught me so many years ago…”
Nick Dougherty Quotes of the week

Players with the top 40 career earnings at the end of the season are exempt from qualifying school. Dougherty’s £5.4m means he is currently down at 48 on the list.

Dougherty is hoping his father can give him a few pointers to get his game back on track. He will make a fleeting visit to Orlando and is due to return to Majorca next week.

Dougherty wrote on his own site: “I have been talking to my dad, picking his brains about the basics he taught me so many years ago, trying to resurrect my old swing and I feel things are gradually getting better.

“I am going to fly over to Orlando, where he bases himself at this time of year, and spend some time with him before the BMW at Wentworth.”