No Dream Lytham Return for Hoey

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With the focus firmly on Northern Ireland’s Major champions, Michael Hoey had been able to savour his first Open experience as a professional out of the limelight, eleven years after first playing the Open at Royal Lytham - after winning the British Amateur championship at Prestwick.

As a proven winner on the European Tour he was looking  forward to the week saying a few dasy ago: “I cant wait to get started and I have a great draw,” said Michael who tees off this morning at 7.25 in the company of former Open champ, John Daly and Chad Campbell.

“Daly is a legend and is bound to have a big crowd following him and both of them play quickly so there will be no messing around.”

But it was not to be on Thursday with the Belfast golfer signing for a nine over par 79, and finishing three strokes adrift of Darren Clarke, and four behind amateur Alan Dunbar.

A few weeks ago Hoey finished tied for 28th at Royal Portrush, at the Irish Open, and was optimistic that the huge crowds that flocked to the North Coast venue had helped prepare him for the vast crowds that are expected at Royal Lytham.

Although conditions he had commented this week were not perfect

“The weather has not been so good here and I think that has kept the numbers down a bit. Practice has gone well. I played 18 on Tuesday and then I just walked the course today. It gave me a chance to have a real close look at the bunkers and how things might play if the wind direction changes.

“The course is playing a lot longer than in 2001 because it is so wet. The ball is not running so much and they have also lengthened some of the holes. It means you simply have to hit driver a lot of the time and you have to find the fairway. The bunkers are so severe and the rough is lush and wet.

“However, although players have talked about it being tough, the fairways are generous and the greens are fantastic. You can be aggressive and hole a few putts.”

Hoey was always unlikely to feature in any pre-tournament lists of Open favourites despite his win this season in Morocco last March.