Rising star Nick Dougherty is targeting victory in China's TCL Classic this week as his last chance to get into the Masters.

　　The young English ace is currently 63rd in the world and believes a win would propel him into the top 50 and secure an automatic invitation to the year's first Major.

　　"It is my last chance to try and make the Masters," he said.

　　"I would imagine I need to win this week, which is a tall order, especially in a good field like this, but it's possible."

　　Dougherty is part of a world-class line-up at the TCL Classic, which tees-off on Thursday at Yalong Bay Golf Club in Sanya on the southern island of Hainan.

　　European No.1 David Howell, defending champion Paul Casey and last year's runner-up, Paul McGinley, spearhead a powerful European challenge.

　　Add the cream of Asia's golfing talent and Dougherty, 23, knows he has his work cut out this week.

　　Before heading out to Asia at the start of last week he had forecast that he would need a first and a second from his next two tournaments to secure his spot at Augusta National next month.

　　He was runner-up to local winner Mardan Mamat in last week's OSIM Singapore Masters - meaning the first part of his mission has been completed.

　　"I'm very pleased with that result last week," he said. "But I don't want to go about this week the same as I did last week - it got at me, the situation. I wasn't myself, I was very aggressive in the way I played.

　　"It worked, because I was gutting it out, I was trying to make it happen. Sometimes you have to when you are struggling.

　　"I'm going to try and relax this week and let my golf just happen. If I do that, I have a good chance. The good thing is, I came out here needing a first and a second, so I'm closer to it this week.

　　"I've got the second. Now it's just one week and anything can happen in one week's golf."

　　Dougherty is making his debut in the TCL Classic, which is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours and promoted by Parallel Media Asia.

　　"I'm looking forward to it, I've never played here before. The course looks good, a very different style to last week. I'm hitting the ball better as well, so hopefully it will be a prosperous week."

　　Thai star Thongchai Jaidee - who will play the first two rounds in a star grouping with Casey and Chinese No.1 Zhang Lian Wei - also likes the look of the par-72 Yalong Bay layout.

　　"I practised yesterday and the course is in very good condition," he said. "I think the course is fantastic - the fairways and greens look perfect - and the scores are going to be very low.

　　"The par fives are quite easy. Not too much rough and it's not that long. The par fours are quite short and there are some easy birdies out there."

　　The Asian challengers at Yalong Bay include current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Charlie Wi of Korea and last week's Singapore winner, Mardan.

　　ENDS