Michael Hoey returns to competition at this week’s Castellon Masters not just delighted to have won on the Race to Dubai but looking to end a 10-year drought in returning next April to Augusta National.
Hoey’s had three weeks off since capturing the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in brilliantly style in denying the U.S. Open winning pair of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell at St. Andrews.
Michael Hoey hoping to line up a return to Augusta National for a first time in 10 years.
Hoey’s hit list now is breaking into the top-64 in the world and qualifying for next February’s WGC – Accenture World Match Play Championship.
And if successful, the 32-year olds next goal is the hallowed fairway of Augusta for a first time since 2002 when he was last there as the then British Amateur Champion.
“So I’m gunning for that match-play but then if I did really well next fortnight in the HSBC in Shanghai and also in Singapore the week after, I could be well inside the top-64,” said the current World No. 99.
“I’ve then got the Hong Kong Open and the Dubai World Championship where there’s more big world ranking points on offer.
“It would be nice to get to Augusta and it would be my 10-year anniversary since I played in the 2002 Masters.
“I’ve had three of the last four weeks at home so I’m physically and mentally fresh for my remaining six events this year.”
Hoey arrived in Spain to be congratulated at every turn by fellow players, caddies and officials and revealing how he’s coping with his accomplishment at the Home of Golf.
“It’s been great these past two weeks since my win to reflect on the quality of the field I beat in Scotland,” he said.
“There was 13 Major Champions and 11 past winners like (Martin) Kaymer, (Padraig) Harrington and Paul Lawrie and it wasn’t till I got back home I’d realized what I had done.”
And while Hoey’s mobile went into overload mode, he’s been particularly delighted to receive messages of congratulations from fellow Northern Irishman and Major Champions, Darren Clarke and McDowell.
“Everyone was genuinely pleased for me but the messages I got from Graeme and Darren were really good as they said a lot of nice stuff,” he said.
“And even arriving here at Castellon today everyone has been coming up to me and shaking my hand, so that’s really nice.
“But it’s to work this week is to work my way into the top-64 in the world as I would love to play the WGC Match-Play early next year.
And this Castellon Masters defending champion, Matteo Manassero has defended his decision to sack Irish caddy, Ryan McGuigan.
Manassero’s two wins were with the Coleraine bagman including the Malaysian Open earlier this year.
“It was very, very hard for me as Ryan has been with me from the beginning and we had two wins together and some great experiences together,” said Manassero.
“So this will be my first week without Ryan but sometimes you need to change as while I had a good summer of golf, the scores weren’t coming.
“The feelings I was taking onto the course were not going away so I will my coach, Alberto (Binaghi) on the bag for the next two weeks until I find someone else,”
However McGuigan has not been idle and will start working with rookie Portstewart pro, Paul Cutler at next week’s Andalcia Masters.
