Chorley's Dougherty in the hunt at one-under

2:33pm Friday 11th July 2008

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CHORLEY’S Nick Dougherty made a solid start to the three-million pound Scottish Open, with a one-under-par first round.

The 26-year-old Shaw Hill professional carded birdies on the ninth, 11th and 15th, but let himself down with dropped shots on the second, 14th and 16th.

He ended the day six shots behind Jaidee Thongchai, from Thailand, who shot an impressive 64 around the Loch Lomond course.

Meanwhile, Lee Westwood says he will head into next week’s British Open more confident than he has ever been before a major tournament.

The Englishman, who missed out on the play-off at last month’s US Open by a shot, began the final countdown to Royal Birkdale with an opening round 67, four under par.

After a flawless display in difficult conditions, he admitted: “I’ve never been as confident going into an Open as I am at the moment.

“Obviously I’ve been confident going into some majors because I’ve won the week before but I feel like I’ve got enough game and no weaknesses in my game where I should be contending.”

After ending Colin Montgomerie’s reign as the undisputed king of European golf in 2000, Westwood suffered a remarkable slump that led to him dropping out of the world's top 200 at his lowest point.

Not until last year, when he won the Andalucia Open and the British Masters, did he start once more to resemble the player he was around the turn of the century.

Now after six top five finishes already this season, he believes a major win is within his grasp.

“When I won the Order of Merit in 2000 this was the sort of consistency I showed, but I won six events on tour that year,” the 35-year-old said.

“I haven’t been far off winning four or five events this year, it’s a fine line between finishing third like I’ve done and winning like I did in 2000.

“The most pleasing thing is I’ve played well in the majors. I was 11th at the Masters and could not really have putted worse over four days, and should have won the US Open but for a couple of shots here and there.”