CHORLEY'S Nick Dougherty is looking for some French flair this week to help claim a place at the Open Championship.

The on-form 25-year-old needs a top-five finish in the French Open to have any hopes of securing an automatic place at Carnoustie.

And the former Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School pupil admitted he would be "gutted" if he missed out.

Dougherty said: "I'm desperate to be at Carnoustie, not just because of the way I've been playing but also because I love the course."

After a joint-seventh finish in the US Open, Dougherty revealed he was considering missing this week's competition at Le Golf National near Paris due to jet-lag.

And Dougherty admitted his performance at Oakmount in the States had certainly opened people's eyes to his potential.

He added: "The only time I've ever been congratulated like that was when I won. It really does feel like I won a tournament, the way people have been around me."

But a disappointing finish to the BMW International Open last weekend, his final round 77 saw him crash to 26th, has forced his hand and sees him stay fourth in a mini-Order of Merit, with two Open spots awarded after this week's event.

Welshman Bradley Dredge and Australian Richard Green have a big lead at the top followed closely by Miguel Angel Jiminez and Dougherty.

That means nothing less than a top-five finish would secure him a coveted place at the year's third major - and save him from negotiating a tricky final qualifying event at Sunningdale.