Nick Dougherty Interview

1. Like the rest of us, you watched the Masters on TV this year?
Yeah, loved it. I wouldn't watch a regular tour event, but I will always watch the Masters. You have the best players in the world playing one of the great courses. It's exciting. You can learn a lot from it.

2.What do you, as a pro, learn from watching tournament golf?
The main thing is the demeanour of the player. I really study Tiger. Especially if he makes a bad swing or a mistake. Sometimes you notice a change in demeanour, which most people wouldn't notice. But if you watch the immediate reaction it's quite amazing what you can learn in terms of the way you deal with poor shots. That's what I look for. I use it as confirmation. All players, not just Tiger. Padraig is a good example. I played with him in Wales last year – myself Padraig and G-Mac [Graeme McDowell]. For him, Padraig played pretty poorly. After the round he's being interviewed and I'm listening to him, and he was so upbeat, it was unreal. It was like he knew something good was coming to him. That's why he went on and had that amazing summer. Mind set. And that's the kind of thing I look for.

3. Your debut at Augusta in 2008 holds special memories for many reasons?
Yeah, it will, forever. It was my first Masters last year and I played great, birdied four of the last six holes in the second round to make the cut. It was such a special week, and some of the things my dad said to me will live with me forever. Although I'd already been successful on tour, I was still his lad, needed looking after. When I made the cut he said ‘You've made it.' He'd never said that before. It was almost like a coming of age. He didn't need to get on to me anymore! And my mum saw me play my first Masters, which is special to me. Augusta is a spiritual place. If you're a golf family, and we are, it is almost surreal just to go there and experience the place.We have all the old videos going back to the early 80s and we used to watch them together. I just loved the place. I will be back next year.

4. Given the fact you were so close to Nick how disappointing was it not to make the Ryder Cup team?
When it was over and the wild-cards were announced people stopped asking me about it, which was all a bit of a relief to tell the truth. My mum died during the week of the Verizon Classic at Hilton Head, and after that my head was just not in the right place to think about or worry about golf. It was a big ask to try and make the Ryder Cup side and I probably tried too hard wanting to do it for my mum. There will be other Ryder Cups.

5.What did you think of the way the press treated Nick after the Ryder Cup?
I was disappointed, obviously, but not surprised. They had an axe to grind.

6. Do you think golf should be in the Olympics?
I don't know really.What's it for? Should it be for amateurs, and if so, why? You have Roger Federer playing tennis? I always think of the Olympics as purely athletics, the best of the best, pushing the body to the limits. I'm not even sure tennis should be in, let alone golf. But if it was, it would have to be the best of the best.

7.Who do you most admire in your own field?
Well, Tiger, obviously. But Padraig Harrington is another, and a great role model for young players. There's a guy who is quite ordinary in many respects, and he gets unbelievable results because he works his hind off. He is totally prepared, focused and disciplined and has a superb work ethic. All of which explains his three majors. He's done it by doing the simple things very, very well.

8.Who do you respect most outside golf?
I've got to say I'm a massive fan of Barack Obama. Of course he looks particularly good next to George W Bush, but I love what he stands for, his mentality, I think it's a great time at the moment all over the world for those who stand up for what they think. Tiger's like that. He never, ever says what you expect him to say. And whatever he says you usually find yourself nodding your head going, yeah, he's spot on there.

9.What's the main strength of your game?
Well, my greens in regulation has improved lately, so my iron play's improved over last couple of years. My putting has always been a big strength. I'm a good holer outer. I'm generally solid in most areas, and my driving has improved in recent years. Bunker play has let me down a little lately, and I'm working on that with Mark Roe (and other areas of the short game). Tee to green, my game is usually solid.

10. Favourite gadget?
My iPod. Love it. The gym would never be the same without it.

11.Which piece of modern technology has most helped your game?
The increased sweetspot on the modern driver I'd say. I use the FT5 – I'm testing the new FT-9 at the moment– all of the drivers in the Callaway range are unbelievable, they hit is so far.

12. Do you think rules regarding equipment should be different for amateurs and pros?
I think so, yeah. Golf's never going to be too easy it it? I can see why people get the hump with the modern game – smash and gouge! The harder the golf course the less players get away with that type of game, but on the standard courses we play there's definitely an element of that in modern golf. The new rules on ‘V' grooves from January will make a difference in terms of the spin you can put on the ball from the rough, so I see that as a good thing. No longer will you be able to stop a ball out of the rough with box grooves. So there is an example of a different rule for pros. But the equipment manufacturers put so much money into making clubs to give pleasure to amateurs – and why not.

13. A dream fourball?
Mum, dad and brother. That would be the best fourball I could hope for.

14.What's your favourite golf course?
Augusta National, mainly because of the experience I had there, playing well with both my parents there to watch me. It's the Holy Grail for all golfers. But also because there are so many options there in terms of strategy. I just love the options – no other course gives you so many different ways of getting the ball onto the green.

15. Best course most will not have heard of?
That's a good question. I tell you one I really like – Conwy. It's one of those courses that can be so tough, the last four holes are very narrow, a really great links course. Played the Boys' Home Internationals there. (And it's only an hour from home!)

16.Which course would you most like to play that you haven't yet?
TPC Sawgrass. Not casually, I might add. Not paying a green fee. In the Players Championship!

17.What's the single best round you have ever had?
Probably the last round of the dunhill Links in 2007. There was a lot of pressure on me, because I had given so many tournaments away, and I started badly with bogey bogey. I played really good golf for all of it really, with a strong field around me. I was proud of the way I played.

18. Favourite food?
Mum's buttered chicken – chicken Maryland I think she used to call it.

19. And favourite drink?
[Better be careful here. Sponsors may read this.]
Diet Coke – I drink it like it's going out of fashion.