NICK Dougherty is aiming high in this week's Madrid Open - he wants to win it!

The 19-year-old rookie pro wants to win a European Tour card for next season without going to Qualifying School.

And to do that the Shaw Hill player needs to finish first or second this weekend - a massive feat for such an inexperienced player.

"I need to finish first or second to win enough money to qualify for a European Tour card for next season," said the player, who had a handicap of plus four as an amateur.

"Then I won't need to go to Qualifying School.

"It has been difficult because I have only played in six competitions and most players play 30 or more.

"And if I hadn't made a mistake at the end in the Dunhill Links last week I would have only needed to finish in the top six or seven here."

Dougherty was eight under par after the first two days but bad weather hampered all the players' progress, especially those that were playing away from the Old Course, on courses where bad weather has a more detrimental effect.

He shot one over on the third day and dropped to 19th on the leaderboard. He was on course to shoot 70 in the final round before disaster struck.

"I was doing alright on the last day and then I triple bogied the 17th, which is a notoriously tricky hole at the Old Course.

"That cost me about £12,000 but I came away with £22,000."

That took his winnings for the season to 65,000 euros - around £40,000. Winning the Madrid Open would pocket him £1.4million.

"There is a lot of pressure at every tournament," said Dougherty, who has now played six tournaments as a pro.

"There are players there who are just playing normally for the money but I need the money to get the card.

"The standard is great, some of the scores they have been winning tournaments with are ridiculous.

"I finished nine under at the BMW Open and at the German Masters and finished 46th both times which would never happen as an amateur.

"That score would usually win you a tournament as an amateur.

"Also, as an amateur there are probably only 10 players who could win an event but on the European Tour there are about 110."

Dougherty, who lies 160th on the European Tour Order of Merit, will have to go to Qualifying School in Spain next month if, as expected, he doesn't qualifying through the money list.

He won the first stage of qualifying at Carden Park and would be one of the favourites to get through.

"Even if I don't get the card I can still play on invitations next year but it would be nice to just have the card."

It seems to have been the perfect year for the former QEGS pupil but he is characteristically modest.

"Winning the Walker Cup was the perfect way to end my amateur career but there are a few mistakes I have made in tournaments.

"But I'm having a really good time. It is nice to finally be getting paid for something I love doing.

"All the guys are looking after me and the people at Shaw Hill have been great, they are very proud of what I have been doing."