Michael Hoey labelled his actions as ‘stupid’ after a second straight breach of the rules
Hoey’s ball had come to rest in ‘ground under repair’ at the par five, 16th he was playing as his seventh on the PGA Centenary course.
However his mistake, under a ‘preferred lie’ in effect on the rain-softened 2014 Ryder Cup host venue, was to place his ball instead of first taking a mandatory shoulder length drop.
Hoey was initially oblivious to his blunder until Ross Fisher’s caddy remarked he hadn’t seen him drop the ball.
Michael Hoey falls foul of the rules for a second event running. (Photo - Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)
The five-time European Tour winner was then forced to add a two-stroke penalty in an eventual round of a one under par 71.
“It’s my own fault and I just played a little bit too quick and need to just take a little bit more time in situations like those, because you have to actually drop the ball first before a prefer lie,” he said.
“So there we go more penalties. It’s just ridiculous.”
Unfortunately, it’s the second event in succession when Hoey has not fully considered the consequences of his actions.
A fortnight ago, and after receiving an invitation to compete in the PGA Championship, Hoey found his ball buried in sand at the ninth hole on day two of the event at Kiawah Island.
As he is allowed, Hoey brushed sand away so as to identify his ball but his mistake was then not to replace the sand to create his original lie.
Hoey had turned around a first day 75 with a second round 70 to be assured of playing all three rounds before later realising his error. He advised PGA of America officials who were left with little option but to disqualify Hoey for signing for an incorrect score.
“I could have called for a rules official but it slows play down by 10 minutes or slow and they don’t want that,” said Hoey.
“I’m having a nightmare at the moment. Losing a lot of shots and a lot of money but that’s life and I have to get over it.
“But I just need to take more time and hopefully that’s me for life when it comes to penalties (smiling).
“Fortunately, it’s happened in the first round today and it would have been horrific had I done it on a Sunday.”
And fellow Ulsterman Darren Clarke’s Gleneagles ‘love affair’ continued with the former British Open winner posting his ninth straight round in the 70s of a 75.
