A week spent playing golf with two Northern Ireland footballing greats along with a very expensive putter has put Michael Hoey in contention for victory in the BMW International Open in Munich.
Hoey birdied his opening two holes and also the closing pair in a seven under par 65 to move a share of second place at 10-under par and only two adrift of Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello (67) on the Munchen Golf Club course.
The Belfast-born Hoey had been presented some time back with a $US 3,000 (Euro 2,677) custom putter that he’s put to good use averaging 27.5 putts over the two German rounds.
Michael Hoey (NIR) makes his move with a 65 during Round Two of the 2015 BMW International Open at Golfclub Munchen Eichenried, Eichenried, Munich, Germany. 26/06/2015. Picture David Lloyd | www.golffile.ie
“I was given this really expensive Scotty Cameron custom putter and after swapping the thick grip for a regular size grip it’s felt really good,” he said.
“The putter’s worth around $3,000 so it’s quality and the fellow who had it made up for me said I better use it given it costs so much, so I am loving it.”
However Hoey has returned to competition after having last week’s U.S. Open off but spending the week playing golf at La Manga with Ulster footballing greats John O’Neil and Sammy Clingan and nine others.
O’Neil, now aged 57, was capped 39 times for Northern Ireland and was a member of the 1982 and ’86 World Cup squad. He also had 310 games with Leicester City.
Clingan, 31 is a former Coventry captain and recently ended this season with a 56th appearances as midfielder with Scottish club Kilmarnock, and from 2006 has been capped 36 times for Northern Ireland.
Michael Hoey moves to within two shots of the lead thanks to a $3,000 putter. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
O’Neil currently plays off a 10-handicap while Clingan is a very tidy golfer playing off five.
“I really enjoyed last week at La Manga playing with John and Sammy, warm weather, good atmosphere, bit of craic and a good warm-up for this week,” said Hoey.
“Both John and Sammy love golf and I would love to play on Tour with them; I would also love to play football for Northern Ireland. We’re doing well in the Euro, as well, and hopefully will get through.
“I’ve played a lot with John but didn’t know Sammy that well. John wil play golf 30 days in a row and just loves the game.”
“Sometimes it is easy to beat yourself up out here on Tour but having spent a week with them last year is like playing a pro-am every day while the two of them have played a good few pro-am’s ahead of the Northern Ireland Open at Galgorm Castle on the Challenge Tour.
“Everyone was playing last week for a green jacket, like you see at Augusta, and it was won by Joe Taggart who is a bit of a bandit off his handicap (smiling)”.
Peter Lawrie delves into his backyard shed to use the putter that two years ago helped him retain his Tour card. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Incidentally, the 11 out in La Manga with Hoey have backed him at 150-1 to win this week.
Peter Lawrie repaid a sponsor’s invitation birding his closing two holes in a score of 67 to move to seven under par and guarantee himself an eighth pay cheque in 15 starts this season.
And Lawrie like Hoey was singing the praise of his putter, and one he had tucked away in his Dublin shed that he had taken to Perth, Australia two years ago and used to secure his Tour card for the 2014 season.
On the bag for that event in Perth was Supercaddy ‘Ronnie’ Roberts.
“My shed is full of clubs and as I don’t give putters away, I try to hold onto them, so I have an array of about 50 putters,” said Lawrie.
“I found one that had been good to me before, so I brought it back out and while there’s nothing neat in my shed, I knew what I was looking for.”
Shane Lowry finally shook off any lingering trans-Atlantic jet-lag birding his closing two holes in a five under par 67 to be sharing 26th place at five under par.
“It was a good cut to make given my lack of sleep this week but I managed to stay patient these two days and that was the main thing while to birdie the last two holes was a real bonus,” he said.
“My game feels good at the moment and there’s still plenty of gas in the tank for the weekend, and I am in a decent position and only seven back which over two days is nothing around this golf course.”
