Exclusive interview with Nick Dougherty
Photos courtesy Tommy Hilfiger
How did you get into golf?
I started playing golf when I was four when my Dad gave me a cutdown club, and we’d go out on the municipal course in Bootle, near our home, and I’d go out there with him the whole time. We’d be out there every night after school practising. I won my first tournament just before my seventh birthday. It was an under 14s tournament at North Berwick in 1989.
How valuable was your time under the wing of Nick Faldo?
It wasn’t long after that tournament win at North Berwick that I was chosen for the Faldo Junior Series where we got to spend time with Nick Faldo, and train with him. That time with Nick Faldo was a huge influence on me at that age, and in developing my game. Here was a guy who’d achieved everything I could ever dream of, telling me how to do it. It was a huge bonus. What are your golfing goals for the coming season? I want to win several times this year and finish in the top 40 of the European Tour Order of Merit.
How do you go about setting your schedule for the year?
At the start of the season I sit down with the schedule and work out which events I want to peak at and work out how best to prepare myself for those big events. That really determines which tournaments I play, as well as whether I like the individual courses.
In which countries or tournaments do you most like to compete?
The European Tour takes us all around the world so we play nearly everywhere now. I really enjoy playing the early swing in the Middle East that took in Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Dubai this year. Great courses, good hotels and it’s always fun to take the game to places where it’s growing in popularity - golf in the Middle East is really taking off now and it’s great to be part of that.
What have you been working on recently with your coach?
I caught up with David Leadbetter out at Champions Gate in Florida over Christmas and we worked on my swing plane. I’m always looking to improve technically with my swing in order to give me greater consistency.
How important do you think fashion is in golf?
Very important. We’re fortunate to be playing a game which is now considered a lot cooler than it was and its important that golf wear reflects that and is fashionable. That’s one of the reasons I love working with Tommy Hilfiger. It’s important to me that I look good and that I’m able to express who I am through what I wear out on the course. The Tommy Hilfiger golf collection that I wear is stylish and follows the fashion trends for each season, and I have a lot of fun picking out which pieces I’ll be wearing.
