Chorley's Nick Dougherty to play in Milan

10:37am Wednesday 7th May 2008

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CHORLEY'S Nick Dougherty goes back into competition tomorrow - trying to fulfil the wish of his late mother.

Dougherty, 25, devastated by the death of his mother Ennis 10 days ago, will play at this week's Italian Open in Milan.

Ennis' funeral was held in Blundellsands on Merseyside yesterday.

And the 61-year-old's wish was for her son - the Shaw Hill professional - to clinch his first Ryder Cup cap in September.

Brendan Taylor, Dougherty's manager, said: "Nick's mum wanted him to do all he could to try to make the Ryder Cup team and so, after much consideration, Nick has decided to stick to his planned playing schedule for the year."

Dougherty, winner of the Dunhill Links title at St Andrews last October, lies ninth in the Ryder Cup standings.

After this week's event he will have a week off, then play the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and Wales Open at Celtic Manor, before taking another week off to prepare for the US Open at Torrey Pines in California.

Dougherty could have been excused tomorrow's warm-up event at Castello di Tolcinasco in the circumstances, but Taylor added that all he had asked for was a late tee-time.