'Butt sticking out the bush...' Nick Dougherty reveals comical Winnie-the-Pooh moment at The Masters

Sky Sports Golf's Nick Dougherty has shared a hilarious story with GolfMagic about the time his parents thought he looked like Winnie-the-Pooh while he was searching for his ball in the bushes at Augusta National's iconic par-3 12th during the 2008 Masters. 

Dougherty, 42, played his first and only Masters Tournament aged 25 in 2008. 

It marked one of 14 major appearances for the talented three-time European Tour winner. 

Dougherty earned his spot in the 2008 Masters after moving inside the top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR). 

The Englishman, who today leads Sky Sports Golf's coverage, went on to record an impressive T33 on his Masters debut.

But that result would not have been made possible had Dougherty not experienced his hilarious Winnie-the-Pooh moment at the back of the par-3 12th during the second round. 

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Dougherty opened with a round of 2-over 74 and it left him with plenty of work to do in order to make the cut. 

He then fell to 4-over for the tournament by the time he reached the 11th tee during the second round. 

Dougherty would go on to birdie the par-4 11th, which is regularly ranked as the toughest hole at famed Augusta National, and it gave him a fighting chance of playing all four rounds. 

But those hopes looked bleak after going long in the bushes on the par-3 12th.

Back then 17 years ago, players had five minutes to look for their ball. 

Had today's rule of three minutes been in play then Dougherty would have missed the cut.

Dougherty thankfully found his ball with seconds to spare, and while he went on to make a double-bogey five, it was huge in the grand scheme of things.

That's because he had sunk his provisional ball into the water at the front of the green.

Dougherty's Mum and Dad very much saw the funny side of his 12th hole experience, alluding to the fact he looked like a certain fictional anthropomorphic teddy bear created by English author A. A. Milne while he was rummaging around in the bushes. 

Dougherty used the break to his advantage by going on to make four birdies on the next five holes, and he would card a brilliant 3-under 69 to make the cut. 

He would close with weekend rounds of 74 and 76 to finish the week at 5-over par in T33.

That was 13 shots behind Masters champion that year, Trevor Immelman, who held off Tiger Woods to win his sole major title by three shots. 

'Butt sticking out the bush...' Nick Dougherty reveals funny Winnie-the-Pooh moment at The Masters

GolfMagic Editor Andy Roberts was recently invited down to Sky Sports Studios in London to experience the broadcaster's innovative AR simulator ahead of golf's first major of the season from 10-13 April. 

And it was there where GolfMagic got to spend some time with Dougherty and his co-presenter Henni Zuel. 

Andy, Nick and Henni played a little nearest-the-pin contest on the 12th hole. 

Former Tour pro Henni stepped up first and sent an impressive shot into 12 feet. 

Andy went pin-seeking knowing he needed to get close, but fuelled on adrenaline - and a couple of Red Bulls while on the train to Sky Sports - flew his tee shot over the green and into the bushes.

Nick then spared Andy's blushes by admitting even the best have been there too. 

"I hit it there when I played The Masters, in the second round," said Dougherty. 

"Obviously no one can go back there. I just birdied the 11th. I found it after 4 minutes and 33 seconds, and my Mum and Dad said I looked like Winnie-the-Pooh cos it was just my butt sticking out of the bush!

"I made a double-bogey five. If I'd have lost it, I hit my provisional in the water already, so I would have missed the cut if I hadn't found it. That's how close I came. I then birdied four of the last six to be in half decent shape going into the weekend. 

"That's Augusta for you, and a very subtle way of nudging in that I went to The Masters and played it..." 

Watch our Instagram Reel here: 

For those wondering what happened to Nick's shot in our own virtual nearest the pin contest, he finished just long of the green, but thankfully not back in the bushes. 

It meant Henni was crowned our Masters Nearest the Pin champion for 2025. 

Before GolfMagic left Sky Sports Studios, we wanted to get Nick and Henni's predicitions for The Masters.

Nick told GolfMagic he thinks Collin Morikawa is the man to beat in golf's first major of the season, while Henni considers Ludvig Aberg will go one better than his impressive runner-up finish on Masters debut in 2024. 

When pressed for England's best chance of a winner at The Masters, Nick confidently selected Tommy Fleetwood, while Henni picked Tyrrell Hatton.

Who do you think will win The Masters? Head over to GolfMagic's social media channels to let us know. 

Sky Sports is the home of golf. Watch live coverage of The 2025 Masters, exclusively on Sky Sports Golf and NOW from 10-13 April.