Nick Dougherty determined to regain his European Tour card at Q-School

Nick Dougherty is relishing the prospect of six days of tense competition as he prepares to return to the Qualifying School determined to regain his European Tour card.

The Sky Living for Sport ambassador has played only four European Tour events this season, but his tie for 27th at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship was his best performance for almost five years and helped him regain his hunger to compete at the highest level.

Dougherty, who broke into the world's top 50 after winning the second of his three European Tour titles in 2007, admits he went through "dark times" after losing his playing rights following a wretched 2011 season.

But the popular 33-year-old has been working hard on his game, and he is heading back to the feared Qualifying School in Spain in high spirits as he bids to spend more time playing than commentating in 2016.

In an open and honest interview with Skysports.com, Dougherty said: "I'm going to Q-School to get my European Tour card back. That's the goal, and obviously that will be everyone's goal in Spain. If things don't work out, I might play the odd Challenge Tour event just to keep myself playing, and I can still play the events I've won before.

"I do miss competing at the highest level. I really enjoyed the events I played this year, and I played pretty well in back-to-back weeks at the Dunhill Links and the British Masters. It was great fun playing well on the first day at Woburn and combining it with all the stuff I was doing for Sky.

"I got a real buzz from those two weeks and I'd like to have that a bit more next year. But my plans for 2016 will very much depends on what happens in Spain. I've been working hard on my game, which hasn't been easy having only played in four events. It felt a little demoralising putting in the practice and then not being able to use it in tournaments.

"I did reap the benefits of the hard work at the Dunhill, and it was great to feel a lot of improvement in my game from the last few years. I had a lot of work to do to get my confidence back up to where it is now, so to have a good week at the Dunhill was massive for me.

"From where I was, that was quite an achievement. It's tough to describe how bad things were for me on the course over the last few years. I could explain how I was feeling, but I couldn't do it justice. It got to the point where I was afraid to go out and play because of what might happen, I was always thinking how badly I would do. I even ran out of balls in an event in Africa, that was one of the lowest points of my career - the pinnacle of my demise!

"But I'm a long way from that now and I've worked very hard to get to this point," added Dougherty, who feels he has nothing to lose and everything to gain from his appearance at Q-School next week.

It's tough to describe how bad things were for me on the course. It got to the point where I was afraid to go out and play

"I don't feel there's a lot of pressure on me at Q School," he said. "I've got plenty of work with Sky to fall back on, and I've been very fortunate that the career I've had in golf has done me well financially - although I'd love to add a lot more to it in the future!

"As much as I enjoy my work with Sky, I'd love to get my European Tour card back and be able to combine playing golf and talking about the game - two things I love doing. Mentally, they are two different challenges. I get in my own way sometimes by over-analysing my own game and in some ways that has been my undoing, but on the TV side of things, it's a benefit to think things through and explain to people what is going on in a player's mind."

Dougherty has been inspired by the likes of Oliver Wilson and David Howell, who both fought back from a period in the doldrums to get their careers back on track with remarkable victories in the Dunhill Links.

"There's a lot of guys who have been in my situation over the years," added Dougherty. "The one that is probably closest to me is what Oliver Wilson achieved when he won the Dunhill Links last year.

"David Howell has bounced back from a couple of quiet years, although he never lost his card. When he won the PGA at Wentworth in 2009 that gave him a big exemption and that's a huge relief for any player because you've got time on your side.

"When you're running out of time to keep your card, that's when the pressure is really on. That's what Oliver Wilson would have been going through late last year. He was in an awful place and went and won his first European Tour title. Not only that, but he beat some of the world's top players, including Rory McIlroy, that week.

"David is another example that you can find a way back. I played with him when he was struggling with his game and he it was awful to see him like that. But, like Oliver, he bounced back with a win at the Dunhill and it's great to see him playing so well again this year.

"So there's plenty of evidence and encouragement for me that I can do the same. I've been to a pretty dark place, but I've managed to find a way through those difficult times.

"The hunger for the game I had when I was 21 isn't the same now. Back then, all I knew was golf. Now I've got more important things in my life, family being top of the list. But I still have the hunger to compete, and that's the main reason I'm excited about going back to Q School. If I can get my card back, I would relish the opportunity to compete more often than I have over the last few years.

"I would welcome another full season on the European Tour, but until I've done that, I won't be able to tell how much I've missed it."

Q School: Journey to the Top