Haig, Dougherty hope for success at Singapore

Singapore:

South Africa's Anton Haig, winner of last week's Johnnie Walker Classic, has a suitcase full of vitamins. Singapore's 2005 winner Nick Dougherty of England, meanwhile, is turning his frown upside down. Both believe they have the recipe for success at the Singapore Masters, which begins on Thursday at the Laguna Golf and Country Club. "Vitamins, Omega 3 tablets, (protein) shakes to settle my nerves. Yeah, a suitcase full of vitamins," Haig said, referring to the suppliments his mother packed for him this week. That strategy worked out fine at Phuket, Thailand last week, with Haig earning his maiden European Tour victory at the Johnnie Walker Classic in a three-way playoff. "I feel good. Hopefully, I can keep my nerves and try my best ... It's been a great experience for me these past couple of days," Haig +-said. Dougherty meanwhile, wants to repeat his Laguna experience of 2005. The Englishman, ranked 132nd in the world, outduelled Ryder Cup stars Colin Montgomerie of Scotland and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn down the stretch in 2005, but lost by a stroke to hometown favorite Mardan Mamat last year. Still, his 28-under total over the past two years puts him among the top contenders this weekend at Laguna's Classic course. "The difference between when I won and when I came second was (that) when I won, I had a great time and smiled my way around," Dougherty said. "But last year I growled my way round ... Last year, I clawed and scowled my way around and golf is not like that." He has reason to smile. Dougherty told reporters he fell in his hotel while suffering a severe bout of food poisoning after the Dubai Desert Classic in February, resulting in a deep gash that "went through" to his skull, requiring eight stitches. "Thankfully, everything is fine and I am all good again," he said. The 25-year-old has Ryder Cup players Darren Clarke, David Howell and Lee Westwood among his competition here. Outgoing Ryder Cup captain Woosnam is also at the $1.1 million tournament, co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours. Defending champion Mardan, Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchat, and Japan's Shingo Katayama are among the top Asians in the field.

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