CHORLEY’S Nick Dougherty hopes to take inspiration from Ryder Cup hero Lee Westwood and rediscover the magic that clinched him the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship three years ago.

The 28-year-old returns to the venue of his greatest professional victory today desperate to end a crisis in form.

Without a top 10 finish to his name in 2010, and six missed cuts in a run of seven European Tour events, Dougherty has seen his world ranking tumble outside the top 250.

It is an unfamiliar situation for the Shaw Hill professional, who readily admits that his game has ‘fallen away’ in the last few years.

Yet, Dougherty believes he can salvage his career and hopes that emulating role model Westwood can help get him back on track.

Westwood himself spent several years in the doldrums before staging an incredible rise up the world rankings, peaking at number two ahead of today’s Alfred Dunhill event.

“You can’t forget Lee was a great player and it all went horribly wrong,” said Dougherty, below.

“He really fell away and struggled with his game badly, then he came back to the player he is now. All credit to him.

“I am trying to follow in his footsteps as I have fallen away in the last few years. He is a great role model to us all.

“My form is not good going into this event, but I have made some massive changes in my game over the last 10 months. I am still a work in progress and I have to be realistic with my expectations.

“I know what I have to do when I get the chance, I just have to wait for that chance to come along again. I have been down about it plenty over the last year or two, but if I keep doing the right things it will happen for me again.”

Dougherty, who won the Dunhill Links in 2007, gets his campaign under way this morning, partnered with former tennis star Tim Henman in the prestigious pro-am event.