Nick Dougherty is ready to turn one of his many golfing dreams into reality after marching to the top of the leaderboard in the PGA Championship second round at Wentworth today.
With blustery winds and wet conditions making low scoring difficult on a West Course recently lengthened under the guidance of world number six Ernie Els, Dougherty carded a three-under-par 69 for an eight-under total of 136.
The 24-year-old Englishman was one ahead of Swede Robert Karlsson (68) and holder Angel Cabrera of Argentina, who was seven-under through seven holes.
"I dreamt I had won it last night and was very disappointed when I woke up," Dougherty said after a dazzling run of four birdies in the last seven holes.
"I won, it wasn't even a contest, I beat Luke (Donald). I think I shot 63 on the last day and he only shot 70."
Asked if he often had that type of dream, Dougherty replied: "Oh yes, all the time. God knows, I've won so many (British) Opens.
"Maybe that's a bit dull that I dream about golf. For me, the biggest thing I could ever achieve in my life with the exception of hopefully being married and having children, would be to win major championships and in particular the British Open."
Dougherty, whose only previous tour victory came at the Caltex Masters in Singapore in January 2005, was one of four overnight leaders at Wentworth. He powered clear of the field today with birdies at the eighth, 12th, 14th, 17th and 18th.
World number 10 Donald, fellow Briton Paul Casey and Frenchman Francois Delamontagne were back on five-under 139.
Donald took an early grip on the European Tour's flagship event when he used a seven-iron to record a hole-in-one at the 146-yard second.
No special prize was on offer for the ace and Donald eventually had to settle for a round of 72 after registering three bogeys on the front nine and a double bogey at the 15th.
Karlsson fired a best-of-the-day 68 and came agonisingly close to another hole-in-one. The Swede finished two inches from the pin at the par-three 14th where the prize for an ace is a car worth $140,000.
Darren Clarke headed straight for hospital to visit his sick wife Heather after returning a 74 for 147, a score likely to miss the cut. Clarke withdrew after two rounds in this event last year to be with his wife who is battling cancer. Reuters
