NICK Dougherty will "stop beating himself up" and trust his natural instincts when he makes his Masters debut on Thursday.

The 25-year-old has had a mixed year so far, with his best finish tied for seventh at the Qatar Masters back in January, but he will have the chance to kick-start his season at the immaculate Augusta National course.

"I have to get my head round the idea that golf is a game of mistakes and learn to accept them," he admitted.

"The results have not been there in the last few months. I've been trying too hard to make things happen instead of learning to relax more and putting greater faith in my own ability.

"The mental aspect is important," he stressed after a session with his mind guru Bob Rotella.

"This game is not about swinging the club perfectly every time. I'm trying to get away from that and start thinking more about scoring.

"It's no good beating myself up every time I make an error. This is a long career and I want to enjoy it."

The Shaw Hill tournament professional will "live the dream" at Augusta National.

"This place is truly awesome," he enthused.

"When I pitched up here a couple of weeks ago and played the course for the first time I wasn't interested in practising. I had a crack at reaching all the par fives in two and didn't care if I hit the ball into the water. I just wanted to soak up the atmosphere.

"Everyone dreams about playing here and it's easy to understand why."

This is his ninth major so he is well used to performing on the big stage but he added: "It's great to tick this one off because it's the hardest tournament to get in.

"The course is super special. You can't just roll up for a game unless you know someone!"

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Dougherty spent four days plotting his way round the exquisitely manicured fairways which wend their way through the magnolias and azaleas at the exclusive Georgia club before retreating to Florida to consult Rotella at West Palm Beach.

He returned to Augusta after fine-tuning his swing with coach Damian Taylor, son of snooker legend Dennis, at the Isleworth course close to his family's winter home.

"The greens are quick, similar to those at Augusta, so I'm feeling more comfortable about my putting," he said.

"I have prepared well for the tournament and have given myself the best chance of performing how I'd like to.

"There are some tough holes, such as the fifth, where you have to hit in a long iron, and the ninth which has been lengthened and has a testing left toright slope on the green."

Victory in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews at the end of last season propelled Dougherty into the world's top 50 which guaranteed his Masters invitation.

"One the back of what I achieved last year this is potentially an even better one," he said.

"I've missed only one cut and I'm well up in all the standings, especially in the Ryder Cup. I'm playing the TCP at Sawgrass later this month and then there's the Open Championship on my doorstep at Royal Birkdale in July."

Back at Augusta, Dougherty will have plenty of support.

His mum Ennis, dad Roger, brother Marcus, girlfriend Claire and other relatives along with several members of Shaw Hill will be in the galleries.

And what about the prospect of pegging up with red-hot favourite Tiger Woods, as he did in last year's US Open?

"It makes no odds, I don't mind who I play with," he added.

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