Royal Air Maroc pilots aboard Sunday night’s charter flight out of Agadir were taking no chances with the ceremonial dagger presented to Hoey in winning the Hassan II Trophy.

Despite a letter from the Crown Prince from Morocco allowing Hoey to carry the gold dagger on board, the pilots on the Gatwick bound flight held the prize in the cockpit until arrival into the UK.

It was a packed flight that left Agadir right on 9pm and arrived into the UK at 1.25am Monday morning.

Many of those on board were heading straight for a Gatwick hotel and flights later today to Italy and this week’s Sicilian Open.

Among them was Matteo Manassero who missed out on the chance to qualify for Augusta in finishing in a  share of third place in Morocco.