Michael Hoey considers The Golfing Union of Ireland as the reason behind a whooping Irish success
Graeme McDowell started it all for the Northern Ireland and although he might be lurking in obscurity for the moment, there are other young guns on the European entourage who still have the ability to take charge on the international arena.
Trophee Hassan II winner in Morocco, Michael Hoey is one such Northern Irishman who was able to take over the grizzled field at the star-studded event to bag his fourth European Tour title last week.
The 33-year-old Northern Irishman surged to the top of the leaderboard with a blistering knock of seven-under, 65 on last two consecutive days, denying the rampaging European Tour players any hopes of landing the title.
Hoey carded eight birdies on the final day and dropped just one shot to grab the title by a mammoth lead of three strokes.
Hoey spoke highly of the Golfing Union of Ireland and considers it the main reason behind an unprecedented Irish success in the sport.
He said, “I keep getting asked why Northern Ireland has produced so many good players in recent times, it’s difficult to say exactly but I suppose there are a number of factors. The Golfing Union of Ireland does a great job; we have all had good levels of
support and I think that the conditions you have to play in in Northern Ireland makes you have to be a better player. When you play tough courses in tough conditions you have to become even better to succeed”.
The young Irishman is now on a marketing spree for the latest event on the Irish turf, The Irish Open scheduled from June 28 to July 1 and is hoping a strength of 80,000 in the event.
The event is returning to Royal Portrush Golf Club after it was first held here in 1953 and marks the zenith of the Irish success in the sport.
Hoey has qualified for the event through his blazing success in Morocco where he clinched a winner’s prize share of € 250,000.
Some of the top-ranked International players of the likes of world number two Rory McIlroy, 2010 US Open winner McDowell and 2011 Open winner Darren Clarke will be part of the field at the event, all of whom will be relishing an opportunity of playing on
the home turf.
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