Former Shaw Hill golfer Nick Dougherty is back in form after a poor 2006.

In the first of a three-part exclusive series, Dougherty tells reporter GARY YORK of his goals for the coming year...

REJUVENATED Nick Dougherty believes he is back in the groove as he bids to make an assault on the Order of Merit's top 10.

The former Blackburn student is slowly eradicating a nightmare 2006 that saw him miss 10 cuts on the spin and lead him to "despise" the game.

In an encouraging start to this year, Dougherty has posted back-to-back top 20 finishes in Dubai and Qatar and now heads back to the scene of his maiden European Tour victory.

The 24-year-old, who started out as a professional at Chorley's Shaw Hill, is among a string of top names - including Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Paul Casey - competing in Thursday's Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand.

And on March 8, Dougherty will attempt to wrestle back his Singapore Masters title at the Laguna National Golf and Country Club.

Dougherty is still to land a second Tour triumph since edging out Colin Montgomerie and Thomas Bjorn for his Singapore success in January 2005.

The last 12 months proved a torrid time for Dougherty, his alarming slump in form costing him a Ryder Cup place and sending his world ranking out of the top 100.

But after seemingly putting tournament results back on the right track, Dougherty is confidently looking up again.

"I was always going to get over last year. It was just a matter of how long it took," admits Dougherty.

"It was frustrating more than anything. I kept on thinking to myself, How long is this going to go on for?' "Being as I am, I wasn't sitting back waiting for it to turn around. Every week, I would go into it thinking, Right, this is going to be it' and that's a great mentality.

"But it's difficult when that happens 10 times in a row. I'd be up and down, up and down. It was hard work, a real emotional rollercoaster.

"I'm playing a lot better now, but there's a long way to go yet."

Dougherty added: "I want to try and win at least once this year. Ideally, more than once.

"But the key for me - more important than winning tournaments - is to gain the consistency.

"When I play average, I want to be finishing in the top 25. If I'm playing badly, to finish in the low 40s, not missing the cut by four or five. That's important for me.

"I want to reach the end of the year and feel I'm consistent in the way I hit every tournament. If I can do that, the rest will take care of itself.

"I'd be very pleased if I finished in Order of Merit top 10 - that would be one heck of an achievement - and to be top 30 in the world rankings at the end of the year. I don't want to put myself under pressure, but it is feasable to do that."

Dougherty, a former pupil at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, is one of the European Tour's most-liked golfers, not just with supporters, but with the media and rival golfers alike.

While his good looks earn him a certain amount of fans, his popularity in the most part is due to his honesty towards the sport and his own weaknesses - something he is comfortable discussing in public.

A couple of years ago, for example, he confessed to living a party lifestyle that almost cost him his tour card.

But Dougherty is mature for his age and not afraid to learn from mistakes, while he remains humble at leading the life of a globe-trotting sportsman.

"It's a great lifestyle, seeing some beautiful countries, cultures and great courses. I love it - I really do," said Dougherty, a protege of six-time Major champion Nick Faldo.

"The fact is I'm practising in Dubai, then going to Thailand to a beautiful resort in great weather, whereas 99.9 per cent of people in Britain are going to the same job every day in cold weather.

"I'm extremely fortunate and I recognise that. No matter how golf feels - and it can deal cruel blows at times, one on top of another, like it did last year - I still recognise that I've got a great job."

He added: "The Tour is a bit different now to what it was a few years back.

"When I arrived, the lads would go out and we'd have a couple of beers at night and go for meals.

"I don't do so much of that now. My girfriend Claire Reynolds travels with me when she's got time.

"It's a bit more serious than it used to be. I'm a bit older and maturer so things have changed.

"It used to be a great laugh, but maybe a bit too much of a laugh for what it is - it's a huge business.

"And in the end, if you want to really be as good as you can be, you have to give it the respect it deserves."

But there is time for fun though. While Dougherty remains dedicated to reaching his targets on the world scene, he is not ready to pass up some of the enjoyable perks of the job.

Earlier this month, staying at Dubai's luxury seven-star Burj Al-Arab, one of the world's best hotels, Dougherty came close to meeting one of his sporting idols, tennis ace Roger Federer.

"Me and Clare booked a helicopter flight for on top of the Burj," explained Dougherty.

"We got asked if we would mind being 15 minutes late because Roger Federer was doing a promotion shoot.

"They said it would be great to take a photograph of me and Roger on the helipad. I was thinking Yeah, that's fantastic'.

"But just as Roger was about to come up from the hotel lift, the pilot said we had to go because he had another pick-up somewhere. I'd never been so gutted!"

TOMORROW: Party days are all behind me now