Nick hopes to be Ryding high in Dubai

10:55am Thursday 31st January 2008

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CHORLEY'S Nick Dougherty will hope to bolster his position in Europe's Ryder Cup team today as he begins his challenge at golf's lucrative Dubai Desert Classic.

The 25-year-old recorded his first top 10 finish of the 2008 schedule last week when finishing an impressive tied seventh at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters.

Following his display in Doha, Dougherty improved his position on the European Order of Merit to 26th and augmented his third placed position on the Ryder Cup European Points List, lying just behind fellow Englishmen Lee Westwood and Justin Rose.

The Shaw Hill professional must finish in the top 10 places if he is to qualify for Nick Faldo's team for the 2008 Ryder Cup, being held in Kentucky, USA, in September.

And Dougherty will do his chances no harm by finishing off his Middle East mini-calendar with a flourish in Dubai.

A host of world-class names - including Tiger Woods - are vying for the £210,000 top prize at the Emirates Golf Club Teen prodigy Rory McIlroy cannot wait for his first professional meeting with world number one Woods after enjoying "a whirlwind 12 months" since making his first cut at the Emirates Golf Club last year.

Last year, as a 17-year-old amateur, McIlroy finished tied for 52nd place at three-under-par after disappointingly carding a final-round 76 and was forced to forego his prize money.

But now the 18-year-old new world number 190 will be able to add any earnings to his ever-expanding career total after making an impressive start to his brief professional career.

"Last year, I went there as an amateur to gain experience," he said.

"But now I am going back knowing I can compete at this level. I am not worried about Tiger. I'll concentrate on my own game and play the course."

McIlroy made his name at last year's Open at Carnoustie with the only bogey-free round on the first day, which saw the former European amateur champion a stroke clear of Woods.

He eventually finished 42nd and seven shots adrift of the American, but with the knowledge he can compete on the same stage as Woods.