Nick Dougherty looks to the future after retiring from professional golf
Thursday 31 October 2019 13:47, UK
Nick Dougherty announced last week that the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship would be his final event as a professional golfer, and he is looking forward to continuing his role as a Sky Sports commentator. But was that really the end?
Yes it was! I've committed to that, and it is the right choice. There's a part of me that's obviously a little sad as it's the end of an era for me. Being a golfer is all I've ever known really.
But I've been lucky over the last couple of years or so to find something else I really enjoy doing, and it's been great to be part of the Sky Sports broadcasting team.
There have been a few things that contributed to my decision to retire as a player. My game has not been good over the last few seasons, although I threw everything at it in trying to recapture my best form. Unfortunately, it just wasn't getting any better.
I also found it hard to commit so much, it's difficult to retain the hunger and desire to play when you're a bit older and have a young family. When you're in a hole, you need that hunger to help dig yourself out of it and I didn't have that.
I get much more of a buzz doing what I do now, so it's definitely the right choice for me moving forward. And I'm lucky that I still get to work within the same industry.
I still love to play, and I will always play, and who knows what might happen down the line. You should never say never, but my immediate future is decided and it's one without golf clubs in my hand in terms of playing competitive golf on the European Tour.
At least I signed off with a really fun week at the Home of Golf. It was nice to have Di up there with me, and I was very pleased with how I played. I should have made the cut, but it was ironic that my putting - the one part of my game that has been consistently good - let me down.
My long game has been the big issue for me in recent years, but I actually hit the ball really well all week. But being realistic, with the little amount I've played this year, I was quite happy with how it went.
It was the ideal place for me to bow out, it's always been a special place for me and Di as we got married in St Andrews. I couldn't think of a better place to say farewell.
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