dougherty driven to distraction

By Mark Garrod, PA Sport Golf Correspondent, Chicago

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Nick Dougherty has a new driver in his bag for this week's US PGA championship in Chicago. There was no choice - the last one, as far as he knows, is still stuck up a tree in Hamburg.

The 24-year-old from Liverpool, who has dropped from eighth to 23rd on the Ryder Cup table in a nightmare run of seven successive missed cuts, talked today of the moment he hit "rock bottom".

A moment watched by Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam.

Dougherty was five under par at the Deutsche Bank Championship with seven holes to go in his second round. It looked as if his slump might be over.

"But then I had what I can only describe as like a yip with the driver," he said. "I flipped and as I walked off the tee after hitting a provisional I reacted.

"The next minute I'm looking at the driver going in the tree. It stayed there and I walked on. Nobody made an attempt to get it down and either somebody has a nice new driver now or it's still there.

"After it happened I was fine again and I said to Woosie 'I'm sorry - I've never done anything like that before.'

"He said 'We've all been there.' Obviously it's been hard for me lately, but I think that was rock bottom. It felt like it any way."

Dougherty has had two weeks off since. He was intending to go on holiday, but his grandfather died and he acted as one of the pall-bearers.

"Sad circumstances obviously, but it was good to spend some time with the family. It brought everybody together and that was amazing to see," he added.

"Hopefully now I can play well and get my confidence back. It's not been my game. It's just the way I've been thinking.

"And being in a major again this week has reminded me that less than two years ago I was 360th in the world. I've come a long way."

Dougherty could still win a first Ryder Cup cap next month and while he accepts it will take a dramatic change in his fortunes he adds: "Wouldn't it be a good story?"