Mother's memory to spur Nick

Englishman determined to honour late mother on the course

Last updated: 7th May 2008

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Dougherty: In action in Italy

My mum's favourite thing in life was to watch me play golf. She lived for it and the thing she would most want for me is the thing I'm best at in life.

Nick Dougherty
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Nick Dougherty believes his mother's untimely death will prove a spur for him to reach new heights in his career.

Ennis Dougherty died at the age of 61 two weeks ago after suffering a heart attack whilst on holiday in Florida. Dougherty and his family laid her to rest in Merseyside on Tuesday.

Despite the immensely difficult circumstances, the 25-year-old has decided to fulfil his playing schedule and will be taking part in this week's Italian Open at Castello di Tolcinasco near Milan.

Dougherty admits his life has been turned upside down by the tragedy and feared that he would lose his drive for the game.

However, after time to reflect, he explained he is now determined to honour his mother's memory by dedicating himself and achieving all he can in the game - although he remains unsure how he will perform this week in the immediate aftermath of what has been a hugely harrowing time.

"I've not had ideal preparation, but bad things happen to a lot of people in the world," he told reporters in Italy on Wednesday.

"This is a disaster for our family and it's something that will never get any better. I don't know how I'm going to react to it.

"I didn't want Wentworth (the European Tour's flagship BMW PGA Championship in two weeks) to be my first week back. I don't want there to be any attention there on what has happened. I just want to get on with it.

"When I got the call from my brother saying mum had had a heart attack and it was touch-and-go your perspective changes immediately.

"I was a little concerned that golf wouldn't mean anything any more because in essence it doesn't.

"But my mum's favourite thing in life was to watch me play golf. She lived for it and the thing she would most want for me is the thing I'm best at in life.

"It gives me more ambition and more drive to go ahead - and that includes coming here this week and competing.

"Wouldn't it be lovely to win this for mum and win The Open for mum and dad as well? But the only way for me to achieve those things is for me to go back to doing what I'm doing."