NICK Dougherty, who started the 137th Open Championship by admitting he was only teeing it up in memory of his mother Ennis, was a much happier golfer cum Friday night after the Liverpudlian responded to some strong Merseyside support during the first two rounds at Royal Birkdale Golf Club.

The 27-year-old, who recorded the biggest victory of his six years on the PGA European Tour by landing the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews Golf Club, in October, made the cut courtesy of a second round 71 which took him to six-over for the golf tournament.

The Shaw Hill Golf Club member, who began working with StrokeAverage.com during his days as an England Amateur seven years ago, was happy to be playing over the weekend.

The 2002 European Tour Rookie of the Year was just happy to hit a “half-decent score” – even if it could have been an awful lot better.

He said: "I didn't play particularly well, but it's nice to make the cut, particularly as the last few weeks have been tough. Certainly I would not have wanted to come here and miss the cut.

“Even at six-over I'm very much in the tournament. If I can start playing well on the weekend, I'm still right there.

He added: “The hard bit will be getting my game in shape. It was a bit of a battle today - I just chipped and putted my way around the course. I didn't hole many putts, but every time I missed the green I got it up and down.”

The Merseysider, whose mother died after a heart attack while in Florida the week after the Masters, is hoping to boost his Ryder Cup chances with the biggest prize fund of the domestic golfing season on offer at Birkdale Golf Club this week.

But the 2005 Caltex Masters champion was certainly surprised to be only seven shots behind halfway leader K J Choi, despite being on six-over par.

Nick Dougherty responded: “I would have expected better. But this is certainly an improvement on Hoylake two years ago where I let everyone down.

“I've got some fantastic support out there and now I want to give them something to cheer over the weekend.”

Someone who should not have too much trouble with his form was StrokeAverage.com's latest client winner Graeme McDowell.

The Scottish Open Champion found it difficult to maintain his rhythm as the overnight leader struggled on the front nine before hitting back on the home stretch to add a 73 to his first round 69.

The 28-year-old from Portrush who pocketed a first prize of £500,000 to all but seal his own Ryder Cup spot at Loch Lomond last week, said: “You know, after four or five days swinging the golf club in this kind of wind, I think it inevitably takes its toll.

“I felt my rhythm wasn't quite there for the first 10 or 11 holes. After that I hit some good shots and it was nice to pick up a birdie on the way in.”

The Ulsterman is bidding not only to become the first-ever golfer to win the Scottish Open and lift the Claret Jug back-to-back, but also become the first StrokeAverage.com client to win back-to-back on the European Tour.

The winner of the Ballantine‘s Championship in Korea four months ago, added: “I'm not thinking of winning at this stage. Maybe tomorrow night I might play myself into thinking that way, but it's going to be a tough weekend.

“It's so wide open. Anyone within four, five or six shots has a chance. So I won't be thinking of winning yet. I've got 36 holes of really difficult golf to come.”

Golf article end.