BLACKBURN ace Nick Dougherty is one of golf's pin-up boys, although his progress was once curtailed by his over-indulgence on the party scene. In the second of our three-part exclusive series, he tells us why that's all changed.

NICK Dougherty admits his partying days are all in the past as he embarks on realising his undoubted talent on golf's world stage.

With his goal to secure an Order of Merit top 10 place by the close of the year, the determined Blackburn ace is not prepared to allow off-the-course activities, that once checked his progress, to scupper his career ambitions.

There was a time, in his early twenties, when Dougherty's partying threatened to sidetrack his desire to reach the top.

He had gained the reputation as the European Tour's party-boy and caddies honoured him with the dubious nickname of "George" - as in the late George Best.

Who could blame him, though, for hitting the dancefloor and enjoying all the luxurious trappings of a jetset lifestyle that golf had brought him at such a young age?

But Dougherty, whose good looks have captured the attention of sponsors and added a touch of glamour to the sport - in the same way that Paul Hunter did for snooker and Gavin Henson has for rugby, has always been honest enough to admit to his mistakes.

For a young sportsman to be candid about past misdemeanors is refreshing, but Dougherty, who is yet to celebrate his 25th birthday, insists it is the best way to learn and develop.

"In the end, people can relate to it," admits Dougherty, a former student at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School.

"I wasn't doing anything bad. I wasn't doing anything that people don't do across the world.

"They just don't expect it from a professional sportsman. But it happens and, trust me, it happens more than what people read in the papers. A lot more goes on.

"The point is, I was a young guy and I made those mistakes and I'm happy to admit to them.

"I think people think more of you when you are honest like that."

It is his frankness and self-critical nature that has endeared a maturing Dougherty - who tomorrow begins his assault on the Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand - to golf supporters across the world.

He added: "My popularity and my name is highlighted in the sport more than my results show.

"I think it's the fact I'm honest with people and that I'm not always going to say that I'm playing great and people can write nice things.

"I'm happy to talk when I'm down about my game, when I'm not feeling so good about it, because people are not going to judge me.

"Not a lot of people admit to their mistakes in the press or media, because it is seen as a weakness.

"For me, it makes no odds. I'm not embarrassed about talking about the things I need to improve on. I've always been open about it.

"There's a lot more to it than I tell anyone. But I think people like to see that openness.

"As much as it is good to say, Oh, I'm playing great', it's a bit boring. There's bits I like to work on and I think people are more interested in reading that.

"If I'm happy to talk about it, it's because I'm having to do something about it, whereas so many people will say It's okay, it will go away' "Because I'm aware of it, I learn from it. I know that's a feature of my golf.

"Two years ago, I could not have made the same statements.

"For me to achieve what I want, I need to go in a certain direction and say this is how I need to think to do those things."

Whether hitting good or bad days, Dougherty receives the support of girlfriend Clare Reynolds and his proud parents Roger and Ennis, who helped further his golfing education by re-locating the family home to Chorley's Shaw Hill when he was 11 years of age.

Looked after by sports management company IMG, the Dougherty team also includes caddie Ian Moore, coach David Leadbitter and fitness guru Ron Cuthbert among others.

But Dougherty is not one for over-worrying about headlines and insists his relationship with the media is fantastic'.

"It's better that way," admits Dougherty. "But even bad press - in some ways - does some good.

"Look at Kate Moss. It's a slightly different arena but it shows that if you get your name about, it can work in your favour.

"Even for Colin Montgomerie. It works for him in a completely reverse way to the way it looks.

"Some of the things written about him can be horrible and I feel for him in a way, and I'm sure a lot of people do when they read that stuff. But people absolutely love him."