Northern Ireland’s Michael will use his two weeks in the States as a ‘yardstick’ become committing to attending the PGA Tour School at the end of the year, and in the goal of joining the U.S. Open winning duo full time in the States in 2013.

Hoey is making his WGC – Bridgestone Invitational debut this week in Akron, Ohio while earlier this week he was afforded an invitation to join fellow Ulsterman Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell in next week’s PGA Championship where he will also make his debut.

Michael Hoey's Alfred Dunhill Links success leads to his start this week in Akron, Ohio. (Photo - Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)

However as Hoey remarked he is not in the States just to make up the numbers.

“I would love to play on the PGA Tour next year but I have decided to use these two weeks as a yardstick on how I perform over here,” he said.

“If I play well enough then I may still go to the Tour School but if I don’t then I will have to reconsider.

“Besides I also need to be inside the top-100 on the rankings to gain an exemption into the second stage of the school, and I also need to improve my game.

“But it’s just awesome being here at Firestone and what a great set-up.

“I just feel really lucky that the PGA of America offered me an invitation because for a good few weeks I was inside the top-100 on the rankings and it’s only now I’ve dropped back to 105th.

“So all I want to do is put in a decent showing these two weeks.”

Hoey will commence his WGC – Bridgestone Invitational campaign at 9am local time Thursday.