Dougherty, the 38th recipient of the prestigious award, emulates Paul Casey (2000) and Ian Poulter (2000).

The 20-year-old Dougherty also follows in the footsteps of the likes of Tony Jacklin, Sam Torrance, Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle, Jose Maria Olazabal, Colin Montgomerie and Sergio Garcia.

Dougherty finished 36th on the Order of Merit with �358,662 after taking third place at last year's qualifying school.

He was joint eighth in the Johnnie Walker Classic on his third start of 2002, was runner-up to Adam Scott in the Qatar Masters and third in the Linde German Masters.

The other leading contenders were Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, winner of the Volvo Scandinavian Masters, and Southampton's Richard Bland, who lost a play-off in the Murphy's Irish Open.

Dougherty was selected by a joint panel comprising the European Tour, the Royal and Ancient Club and the Association of Golf Writers.

"You are only a rookie once and I talked to my dad at the start of the year and we agreed it would be a wonderful thing to win," said Dougherty.

"I am good friends with Ian Poulter and I know how much it meant to him to win the award.

"This is a fantastic way to finish the year, especially when I look at the calibre of people who have won the award in the past."