And he'll be keen to get out of the blocks quickly in his quest to improve his 49th spot in the world standings and stay in the frame for September's Ryder Cup showdown in Louisville.
Thanks to victory in the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews last October, the 25-year-old Shaw Hill tournament professional is holding on to fifth position in the Ryder rankings.
But he is mindful of avoiding a repeat of the disaster he suffered in 2006 when, after looking a cast-iron cert, his career went into freefall and cost him his place in the European side which crushed the United States at Ireland's K Club.
Incentive
An additional incentive is that the team is captained by his friend and mentor Nick Faldo.
Dougherty seems to have mastered not only his game but his emotions and few would bet against him winning at least once on tour this campaign to add to his two victories.
He is exempt from qualifying for the Open at Royal Birkdale in July and he is eagerly looking forward to his debut in the Masters at Augusta in April.
Dougherty lies 33rd in the European Order of Merit, four berths above Styal's David Horsey, who moved up a few notches on Sunday after finishing 25th in the Joburg Open.
Ryder Cup star Paul Casey defends his title in Abu Dhabi, facing competition from Open champion, Padraig Harrington, Adam Scott and Luke Donald.
RUSSELL Lewis is off to Florida at the end of the month after being chosen from hundreds of applicants to join the 10-strong British and International Greenkeepers' Association at the Golf Industry Show in Orlando.
The 29-year-old Hale head greenkeeper said: "We face a hectic schedule visiting local courses and attending seminars.
"More than 25,000 golf industry professionals are expected at the show."
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