Nick Dougherty: What's in the bag?

Nick Dougherty gained access to the European Tour in 2002 following a glittering amateur career in which he won the World Boys Championship in 1999, represented England (Boys and Men) 74 times and was a key member of the victorious GB&I Walker Cup team in 2001. Nick took to the pro ranks with great comfort finishing 36th on the Order of Merit and winning the coveted Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award.

Dougherty claimed his maiden Tour victory at the 2005 Singapore Masters, and he has subsequently followed that up with a victory at the 2007 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, the highlight of his career to date. So, we asked what he had in his bag.

Driver I play the Callaway FT-5 with a neutral 8.5˚head. I understand the technology behind square drivers but for me personally I found it hard to shape. The FT-5 is forgiving but it’s also easy to manoeuvre.

Fairway wood I use a 15˚ Callaway X 3-wood with an Aldila NV shaft. The good thing about it is that I find I can draw this a little easier than my driver. I can still hit this quite a long way, about 265 yards.

Utility I chop and change between my Tour Authentic utility iron with an Aldila Voodoo shaft and a 64˚ wedge. I like the utility because it’s a great gap filler between my 3-wood and my 3-iron. It’s good out of the rough as well but it’s not quite as handy when the course is soft.

Irons I use Callaway X Forged irons with Rifle Flighted shafts. I like cavity backs because they are more forgiving than blades. Aesthetics are very important and when I stand over these, I’m very confident.

Wedges I use three Callaway X Forged wedges 52˚, 58˚ and a 64˚. They all have around 8˚of bounce. The 64˚is a specialist wedge that’s often useful in the majors when the rough is thick around the greens.

Putter Odyssey White Hot 6. I like classic shaped putters and putting is one of the biggest assets of my game. I switched to this putter the week before I won the Dunhill in 2007.

Ball I use the Callaway Tour i which goes a bit further than the old one and it’s really stable in the wind. The control on the greens is also good.