Nick Dougherty produces sparkling finish

Aug 16 2008 by Peter Guy, Liverpool Daily Post

RYDER CUP hopeful Nick Dougherty produced a sparkling finish to regain a share of the lead at the SAS Masters in Stockholm yesterday.

The 26-year-old from Liverpool birdied three of the last four holes for a second successive 66 at Arlandastad and goes into the weekend alongside Swede Peter Hanson on eight under par.

Dougherty, leader of the Ryder Cup points table last October, has fallen to 15th since the death of his mother after a heart attack in April.

He has been determined to play with a smile on his face once more this week, however, and so far it is working wonders.

“That’s how I play and it’s nice to be doing it again,” he said. “The Ryder Cup would be lovely and I would be an idiot if I said it does not matter, but more important is enjoying my golf again.

“I’ve had my reasons to feel a bit down, but considering how I’ve played the last few months I’ve a lot to smile about this week.”

There are two more counting tournaments to follow and Dougherty would be just outside an automatic top-10 spot if he were to triumph tomorrow

His late run began in unlikely fashion on the 545-yard 15th when he missed the fairway by almost 50 yards, then went left before pitching to 15 feet and making the putt.

Dougherty then got up and down from sand at the 17th, another par five, and hit a glorious four-iron to 10 feet on the next.

Hanson also repeated his opening 66, grabbing birdies at three of the first six holes and adding another on the 15th.