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ST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- Nick Dougherty won the Dunhill
Links Championship by two strokes Sunday, closing with a
1-under-par 71 for his second European tour title. After bogeys on the first two holes, the Englishman birdied Nos.
6, 7 and 8 on the Old Course at St. Andrews and finished at
18-under 270. "To beat a field of this caliber, and at St. Andrews, which has
never been good to me, is amazing," Dougherty said. Justin Rose shot a 69 for second place, and 18-year-old Rory
McIlroy of the Northern Ireland had a 67 for third. Barry Lane (67)
and Paul Lawrie (71) followed at 274. McIlroy turned professional after the Walker Cup last month and
earned his full tour card in only two events. He was 42nd in the
British Masters last month. "I knew at the start of the week I had to do something special
to earn my card," said McIlroy, who had a double-bogey 7 at the
14th but had birdies on three of the last four holes. Ernie Els (71) tied for sixth with fellow South African Trevor
Immelman. Els had a triple-bogey 7 at the 16th. He putted from just
off the back of the green into a bunker, took four more to get down
and three-putted after a miss from 2 feet. Dougherty's other European tour victory came at the 2005
Singapore Open. On Saturday, Dougherty shot a 66 for his best round
at St. Andrews.
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