Nick Dougherty looks forward to another memorable British Masters
Thursday 13 October 2016 11:29, UK
Nick Dougherty describes the British Masters as one of the most popular weeks of the year for the European Tour, and he is looking forward to another event packed full of innovations and great golf at The Grove.
One of the big innovations introduced by Sky at last year's British Masters was me being mic'd up and talking to the commentators while I played the par-threes at Woburn. I was open to that and it was easier for me to do it having already been part of the team.
I thought it was a brilliant idea and, judging by the feedback, it was something the viewers wanted to see as well. It felt like I was actually talking to the people in their homes rather than Ewen in the commentary booth, and for the viewers to feel connected to someone playing in the middle of a tournament was revolutionary.
This year, we'll have the likes Tim Barter and Andrew Coltart interviewing the players mid-round, which is another Sky Sports first for a strokeplay event. It's another new innovation, and I hope that, in time, more and more players will be comfortable enough to do what I did last year.
The European Tour are very protective of their players, which is understandable, but they are also forward thinking and willing to try new ideas to keep golf coverage fresh and innovative.
With the mid-round interviews this week, we'll get plenty of insight and the vibes from key groups throughout the week at The Grove, and that's the reason why this is a tournament like no other.
One of the key targets for the British Masters is to drive young engagement in the game. It's our collective responsibility to drive the game forwards, and last night's Hero Challenge was a prime example.
Reading all the comments on social media, you realise just how many kids were watching it that wouldn't normally tune in to golf. That's what we want, we need to reach out to that younger audience, give them some innovative entertainment and attract that new involvement.
That is what we're trying to achieve with this tournament in particular, and it's essential because golf will not naturally sustain itself. Golf is in great hands with the likes of McIlroy, Spieth, Dustin Johnson and Jason Day, but we have missed Tiger.
He drove the game for such a long time, and the game now needs a helping hand. We'll play our part this week in getting kids into the game and making it clear what good the game can bring.
Matt Fitzpatrick was the youngest player in the field when he won the British Masters at Woburn, and there's a good chance of another emerging youngster being crowned champion at The Grove.
Nobody really has any advantage in terms of course knowledge. There's only around a dozen players who were in the field for the WGC event here, and that was 10 years ago now. I grew up playing this course a lot as I lived nearby, but I wouldn't think there are many players that know the layout well.
In terms of who the course will suit, the fairways are quite generous so the bigger hitters will be favoured. And if we are sat here on Sunday talking about back-to-back wins for Tyrrell Hatton, I would not be surprised at all.
He hit it beautifully at the Dunhill Links, and the way his form is trending right now, he's got every chance of another win here.
On the back of the Ryder Cup, last week was a weird time for those European team members who played in Scotland. But Chris Wood took a week off and I'd be looking for him to feature at the top of the leaderboard here.
I think Woburn suited Fitzpatrick perfectly 12 months ago, and although The Grove is a different style of course, Matt is a class act and can win anywhere. Obviously I'd love to see another British winner of the British Masters, and the longer hitters among them should go well here.
One of the things I'm really looking forward to again this week is presenting the live Masterclasses which follow the tournament coverage over the first three days. The content from Woburn is still being talked about today, but we'll find some fresh tips at The Grove.
This year, viewers have the chance to have their questions answered by the pros, and it's a rare chance to pick their brains and get that valuable insight into what makes them so successful. Effectively, the public will be getting great tuition from some of the best in the world.
Let's not take anything away from the tournament. It's a big event, the field is strong and the golf course is superb, but when you add in everything else we do around the tournament, it all comes together to make the British Masters one of the most popular events of the year.
Watch live coverage of the British Masters and the live Masterclasses throughout the week on Sky Sports - your home of golf.
