 Dougherty won his maiden tour victory in January last year |
Nick Dougherty says tournament wins are more important to him than cementing a place in Europe's Ryder Cup team. The 23-year-old is hoping to open his season's account at this week's Algarve Portuguese Open, starting on Thursday.
"Golf's an individual sport and it will mean much more for me to win three tournaments this year, arguably to win one," said the Liverpool-based star.
"A Ryder Cup place is certainly something I want on my CV but for 51 weeks a year it is an individual game."
Dougherty has finished second, third and fourth twice this season and holds eighth place of the 10 automatic spots for the Ryder Cup team. He is also fifth on Europe's money list.
But his world ranking of 62 meant he missed out on a place in the US Masters - with automatic qualification limited to the top 50.
Dougherty is part of a strong field at Penina in the Algarve, which includes Welshmen Bradley Dredge and Stephen Dodd - who won the rain-affected 54-hole World Cup at the nearby Victoria club in Villamoura last November.
Former Ryder Cup stars Paul Broadhurst and the 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie - who finished second last year - are also taking part.
Last week's Madeira champion Jean Van de Velde will be hoping to continue his good form, after a first tour win for 13 years.
But Seve Ballesteros, yet to make a start to the European Tour season, has decided not to enter this week's event or the Spanish Open next month.
MMIX
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