NO MORE living in the shadows for Michel Hoey, after his Alfred Dunhill Links victory – the biggest of his career, both financially and in prestige – has elevated the Belfastman to a new status that will give him the platform to chase even bigger titles on the world stage.
Indeed, the doors have already started to open for Hoey. The Dunhill win has earned him places in the megabucks, limited-field WGC-HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai next month as well as next year’s Bridgestone Invitational in Akron and catapulted him up the world rankings, from 271st up to 98th.
For a player who turned professional after an honour-laden amateur career which included winning the British Amateur and being part of a star-studded Walker Cup team, which included Graeme McDowell and Luke Donald, the win in the Dunhill Links has eased whatever self-doubts he had about belonging at the top level.
Having made six visits to tour school and also battled on the Challenge Tour for much of the last decade, the 32-year-old Ulsterman can now set sights on loftier ambitions and aim to contend in the Majors. “When I first turned pro, and went from playing the really big amateur events, the Walker Cup and the US Masters (in 2002) as an amateur, I found the reality where you have to earn your spot on tour . . . to go from Augusta to not great golf courses on the EuroPro Tour, it’s a big change.
“I was playing mini tours for virtually no money, with huge expenses, and the standard was really good. I thought, ‘this is tough’, and quite a few times I thought (of walking away). But, then, I thought, ‘you have the talent. It is in there, just keep going’ . . . you have to play wherever you’re playing, but you have to find your own inspiration.
“I’ve struggled with my belief (in the past). At times, I’ve thought I’m unbelievably good and at times I’ve felt I just don’t have the consistency, which is what it’s all about.”
However, his play in Scotland, where he held off Major champions and fellow-Northern Irishmen McDowell and Rory McIlroy, confirmed just how good he could be. “I felt it was my week, and very rarely in golf have I felt that. Whenever I hit a poor shot, I got a really good lie in the rough. Whenever I needed to hole a putt I did. Whenever I needed to hit a good iron shot I did, or a good drive.”
Hoey – who resumes tournament play at next week’s Portugal Masters in the Algarve – has moved up to 15th on the European Tour money list, which puts him in a strong position to secure places in next year’s US Open and British Open championships off the order of merit. The top 15 on the order of merit after the season-ending Dubai World Championship in December will automatically earn tickets to next year’s US Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, while the top 30 on the end-of-season list get places into the British Open at Royal Lytham St Annes.
That ambition to play in more Majors is now very much in his own hands. “I’ve watched a lot of golf on TV and always thought if I can play in those events I’d be unbelievably happy. It’s a dream come true,” said Hoey.
McIlroy, who remains at world number three after his runner-up finish behind Hoey, flew out to South Korea yesterday morning where he is playing in this week’s Korean Open. In fact, the 22-year-old Co Down man is in for a hectic late season schedule as he is also lined-up for an exhibition in China next week before travelling to Bermuda for the Grand Slam of Golf. He does plan a few days break after that – to watch tennis in Istanbul – before resuming his golf schedule with the HSBC in Shanghai.
After that, his schedule also includes the World Cup (where he will partner McDowell for Ireland), the Hong Kong Open and the Dubai World Championship as he seeks to chase down current leader Luke Donald.
Pádraig Harrington’s top-10 finish in the Dunhill has moved the Dubliner closer to earning a place in the Dubai World Championship, which is limited to the top 60 on the money list. Harrington has moved up to 71st in the latest standings and has a week’s break before resuming his quest at next week’s Portugal Masters.
This week’s Madrid Masters features three Irish players, with Gareth Maybin, Damien McGrane and Paul McGinley all in the field.
Elsewhere, Simon Thornton, who is virtually assured of his full tour card for next season, Niall Kearney and Colm Moriarty are playing in the Allianz Open in Monthieux in France.
In the US, three birdies near the end of his final round earned Kevin Na his first PGA Tour title as he beat Nick Watney by two strokes to win the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas.
Na closed with a six-under-par 65 for a 23-under 261 total at TPC Summlerin.
Watney, a two-time winner this year, shot a 67 and Tommy Gainey and Paul Goydos had 66s to tie for third at 18 under.
Na, tied for the lead with Watney entering the round, sealed his victory with a 42-foot birdie putt on the par-three 17th. Na and Watney both parred the par-four 18th.
The winner also had five birdies and a bogey on the front nine to reach 21 under.
From there he parred the first four holes on the back nine, then dropped a stroke on the par-three 14th to fall into a tie with Watney.
