Hoey makes history with Alfred Dunhill Links win

Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey birdied three of his last four holes to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship by two shots from fellow countryman Rory McIlroy.

Graeme McDowell made it a one-two-three finish for Northern Ireland, finishing tied-third on 18-under-par with Scot George Murray, who’s prize money secured his card for next year.

Last year’s Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen at St. Andrews finished tied-fifth while world No 1 Luke Donald finished in a tie for ninth.

Hoey’s win also went into the European Tour history books, making it the first time Northern Ireland has produced five winners in a European Tour season. The 32-year-old won earlier this year at the Madeira Islands Open, along with McIlroy (US Open) and two-time winner Darren Clarke (Iberdrola Open and Open Championship).

It wasn’t plain sailing for Hoey on a sodden Old Course layout after heavy overnight rain. Having squandered a three-shot lead with an indifferent front nine, McIlroy piled on the pressure in the early part of the round by playing his first 11 holes in seven-under par, including a holed wedge shot for an eagle on the third, to take the lead.

But the US Open Champion could only par-in from there, allowing Hoey to regain his lead on the back nine and require a par or better on the final hole for victory. He calmly played a low, running shot up the Valley of Sin and converted for a birdie and a two-shot win.

“It was slipping from me on the front nine, I was finding it hard to find a rhythm,” admitted Hoey.

“I holed a good putt on 15 and then made good swings going into 16 and 17 and then by the last the pressure was off. It’s very satisfying, I played great for four days, 22-under is by far the lowest score I have ever done.

“At the start of the week I would have said there’s no way I could beat these major winners around here.”

Nick Dougherty, despite missing the cut in the individual event, came out on top in the Pro-am event with partner Chris Evans. The pair finished on a whopping 40-under-par, three shots ahead of Hoey and his partner William Farish Jr.

Dunhill Links Championship
-22: M Hoey (NI) -20: R McIlroy (NI) -18: G McDowell (NI), G Murray (Sco) -17: T Fleetwood (Eng), L Oosthuizen (SA), M Warren (Sco) -16: P Harrington (Ire)
Selected others: -15: L Donald (Eng), J Donaldson (Wal), S Dyson (Eng) -12: C Montgomerie (Sco) -10: L Westwood (Eng)