NICK Dougherty is approaching a major milestone in both his life and, he hopes, in his professional golfing career too.

Next Saturday the Chorley man turns 21 but he's prepared to wait until the Sunday for the present he wants most - the Volvo PGA Championship title.

The fact that the Wentworth event falls on Nick's big weekend could be some higher power penning the perfect story. And such coincidences often have a happy knack of making the script leap from the page and come to life.

But even if Dougherty fails to take his first professional title, one thing is guaranteed - a massive party after the championship is finished on Sunday night.

And the Wentworth tournament is the perfect backdrop for Dougherty to make sure his big birthday bash goes off with a bang.

"I've nothing planned for the Saturday, which is the day of the birthday, but on Sunday there will be a big do in London," he said.

"It will be a big party because a lot of people are coming down from the north for it.

"It should be a great time. It's my favourite event of the year anyway so it will be good fun whatever happens.

"It's one of the premier events of the year and I love Wentworth, it's a great course.

"The PGA is a tournament I really want to win at some stage in my career so it would be amazing to do it the day after I turn 21.

"But it will be a good celebration down there whatever the result."

But a double celebration will be guaranteed whatever happens at Wentworth because Doherty will receive another 21st birthday present this week - the European Tour Rookie of the Year 2002 trophy.

And the former Shaw Hill player has looked back on the highlights of his successful debut on the circuit.

Dougherty said: "There are three things that stand out from last year. The biggest achievement was getting my European Tour card at Roque Soto Grande on the Costa del Sol.

"There was a lot of pressure on me because the press expected me to breeze through, just turn up and I'd get it.

"It wasn't that easy because I knew that with that pressure I'd still have to play really solidly to get there.

"It was a big week and a hard week but I came up with the goods and played well.

"In the tournaments, the highlight was coming second in Qatar and the third place I got in Germany was important as that clinched me the Rookie of the Year.

"I'll be getting the trophy this week, which is another reason why this is such a good week."

Now well into his second 12 months, Dougherty seems groomed for pushing for major honours like the PGA, particularly judging by his fine showing in another big British tournament last weekend.

The former Shaw Hill player carded 293 over the four days at the Belfry to finish level with the likes of Justin Rose and Bernhard Langer in the Benson and Hedges International Open.

And as he proved his pedigree further by beating friend and mentor Nick Faldo, among other greats of the game, to the cut.

It all explains why Dougherty's family and friends haven't made any plans for Saturday. They'll need Nick to ahve a quiet night on his birthday as, quite simply, they're not expecting him to miss the cut

Dougherty said: "If I can take some of my good form in to Wentworth it will give me a chance to do well.

"I've been consistent this year and made every cut but I suppose I just lack the game to win things at the moment.

"My good stuff has been really good but the bad stuff has been really bad.

"My swing has been getting me into trouble but I've been working on it and now I'm swinging a lot better and hitting the ball better."

Such anxieties about his game will be long forgotten, however, when the celebrations kick in for his 21st on Sunday.

And there will be an international flavour to the proceedings as Dougherty welcomes some special guests to the bash.

He explained: "I have quite a few friends from Australia coming over. I've played over there on the tour and it's my favourite place.

"I was fourth going into the final day of the tour event in Sydney before finishing 16th so I always seem to do pretty well in Australia.

"I took two weeks off while I was over there as well, which was nice as it allowed me to take a holiday and enjoy that part of the tour rather than just think about golf.

"Everything about the place excites me, the weather, the nightlife and it's a good place to play.

"So it will be great to see some friends from there on Sunday night. That will make it a proper party."