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Dougherty eyes home help

19/07/2006

Liverpool's Nick Dougherty is hoping a home crowd can inspire him as he begins his British Open challenge at Hoylake.

The 24-year-old has struggled in recent tournaments but arrives at the third major of the year with renewed optimism.

Now he is looking to reward the backing the local crowd has given him in the build-up to the championship with a good performance.

"To have the Open in my home city is awesome and hopefully I can give the locals some reward for the amount of support I've already had this week," Dougherty said.

"I hope they lift me when I need it as I've been playing pretty badly recently but if I can ride on the wave of energy that the Liverpudlians will give me this week then who knows?"

Dougherty arrives at the Open in poor form, having missed the cut at his last three tournaments.

He goes into the championship knowing that he is also playing for Ryder Cup points, having slipped out of contention for a trip to the K Club in Dublin in September.

Dougherty remains upbeat though.

"Now I'm well outside the Ryder Cup at the moment and I've slipped a long way down the Order of Merit but strange things can happen," Dougherty added.

"People's performances can turn on a sixpence as form is temporary after all and hopefully I can turn it around here."

Dougherty will play the first two rounds at his first Open with New Zealand's Michael Campbell and Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez.

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