Rory Strikes Record 64 in Aberdeen

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Rory McIlroy fired a course record 64 in the opening round of the Aberdeen Asset Management  to lead the  Scottish Open on Thursday,

Michael Hoey finished two strokes off the lead after a round of 66. 

Sweden's Kristoffer Broberg had established a new mark of 65 at Royal Aberdeen after going out in the first group at 6:30am, but that lasted a matter of two hours as McIlroy also made light of the windy conditions.

The former World Number One carded eight birdies and one just bogey, even driving the green on the downwind par four 13th - a distance of 436 yards.

"Everything was pretty much on," a delighted McIlroy said. "I controlled my ball flight really well which is the key to me playing well in these conditions and on these courses.

"I've been working the last ten days on keeping the ball down, hitting easy shots and taking spin off it and I went out there today and really trusted what I practiced."

McIlroy revealed he had also driven the 13th in Wednesday's pro-am, although it probably still came as a shock to the group ahead of Ian Poulter, Miguel Angel Jiménez and Jimmy Walker, who were still on the green.

"I'm driving the ball really well and I feel if I can get driver in my hand and have an advantage on the field I should do it," he added.

"Going out this morning in these conditions I thought anything in the 60s would be a good score so to shoot something better than that is pleasing."

The scoring overall was excellent given the wind was gusting up to 20mph, with Luke Donald and Scot Marc Warren shooting rounds of 67.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson also looked set to finish four under par, only to three-putt the 18th for his only bogey of the day.

Broberg won four times on the Challenge Tour in 2012, three of the victories coming in the space of four weeks.

"I played really, really well," he said. "I hit very good shots and a lot of close ones, so this helps a bit. And I kept away from those bunkers and stayed patient.

"I woke up at 4am and saw the wind out there. There was a little less wind to start, but it got more windy after eight holes so it's the same for everybody."

Kevin Phelan and Darren Clarke signed for rounds of 69.

Garethr Maybin and Padraig Harrington carded 71's with Simon Thornton finished Thirsday on 73.

Paul McGinleyended on 74 strokes.

Peter Lawrie was +8 after nine bogeys.

Hoey Scents Chance in Cologne

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Michael Hoey signed for six under par, 66, in the opening round of the BMW International Open in Cologne, to remain two strokes behind the joint leaders, England’s Danny Willett and Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello

Hoey carded six birdies on the first, third, fifth, 10th, 13th and 15th holes. 

Shane Lowry finished five under on 67 with eagle on the 13th and five birdies the highlights.

Kevin Phelan signed for a 68 including four birdies and level scores on the remaining holes.

Damien McGrane was a stroke further back after a round of 69. 

Gareth Maybin signed for a (71).

Paul McGinley rounded in 72 but along with Peter Lawrie on 73, David Higgins signing for 75 and Simon Thornton on 76 are on the wrong side of the projected cut line. All will need a good Friday to see weekend action.

Martin Kaymer’s return to action following the second major victory of his career gave his home crowd little to really cheer on the first day of the .

In perfect scoring conditions at Gut Larchenhof the German disappointingly found himself five shots off the early lead. Starting at the 10th, two birdies in three holes were quickly undone by a double bogey at the short 16th and another dropped shot at the 18th took him to the turn in one over.

Three successive birdies immediately got him back to two under but having hit his second into a greenside bunker at the 577-yard seventh he failed to get out of the trap from an awkward lie and bogeyed to finish one under.

Storm, by contrast, was bogey-free as, after reaching the turn at two under, he carded four birdies in five holes from the 11th to set the clubhouse lead at six under.

He was later joined by Hansen, who also did not drop a shot, Stal who got to seven under through 16 holes — including an eagle at the par-four ninth — before making his only bogey of the morning at the 17th, and Campillo.

Robert Karlsson, who started on the back nine, looked set for a low score after reaching the turn on five under but eight pars — interrupted by a dropped shot at the eighth — meant he finished the day two shots off the lead.

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Hoey Cut at Galgorm Castle

Michael Hoey missed the cut at the Northern Ireland Open at Galgorm Castle after a four-over-par 76 left him well down the field on four over par.

Hoey called a two-shot penalty on himself as he carded a triple-bogey seven at the 11th, his second hole.

Portrush's Alan Dunbar (74) also missed the cut by one shot on level par.

Dutchman Dean Huizing leads on 11 under while Dermot McElroy (70) and Jonathan Caldwell (69) are the best placed NI players on five under.

Jen Dantop and Ross McGowan are three behind Huizing in tied second with four players a further shot back.

Former Walker Cup player Caldwell, from Clandeboye, moved into the running thanks to a 69.

Ballymena golfer Dermot McElroy (70) and Michael McGeady (72) are also five under.

Gareth Shaw (72) and Northern Ireland amateur Reeve Whitson (69) made the cut on two under.

Former British amateur champion Dunbar failed to make the cut following a disappointing 74.

Richard Kilpatrick and Paul Cutler both registered rounds of 72 to finish four over.

Hoey, a five-time European Tour winner, told reporters that he was "massively disappointed" not to be involved in the weekend's action after a round in which "everything that could go wrong did go wrong".

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McGeady in NI Open Mix

Michael McGeady is one behind the leaders after firing a six-under 65 on day one in the Northern Ireland Open at Galgorm Castle.

McGeady was one behind German Bernd Ritthammer and England's James Ruth.

Ross McGowan, Norway's Jens Dantorp and Scot Andrew McArthur and Dutchman Daan Huizing joined McGeady on 65.

Nick Dougherty and Oliver Wilson both showed a return to form as they carded rounds of 66 with Gareth Shaw firing a 68 and Michael Hoey on 70.

Nuremberg-born Ritthammer, who finished second in the Challenge de Espana event in June, fired a flawless seven-birdie 64 as he took advantage of the benign conditions at the Ballymena course and was later joined by 28-year-old Plymouth native Ruth.

Donegal-based McGeady is playing in only his second Challenge Tour event of the year.

McGeady, 35, has a Challenge Tour victory to his name after triumphing at the Wales Challenge in 2008 but lost his card for the second-tier European circuit at the end of the 2011 season.

However, McGeady clearly likes the Galgorm course as he achieved top-six finishes in the two most recent EuroPro events staged at the Ballymena venue.

The Derry man's round on Thursday included a remarkable nine birdies as he produced tidy halves of 32 and 33.

Former Madrid Masters champion McGowan, who narrowly missed out on earning a Ryder Cup place in 2010, also carded a 65 which was highlighted by an eagle-three at the last.

Dougherty, who like McGowan is now aged 31, has had three European Tour wins in his career but he has struggled badly for form over the past three seasons.

Liverpool-born Dougherty has earned less than £400 in 10 Challenge Tour events this season and lies 252nd in the rankings.

However, he showed signs of a return to form on Thursday in his seven-birdie 66 while 2008 European Ryder Cup player Wilson dropped only one shot as he matched Dougherty's round.

Also on 66 was another Englishman Andrew Johnston whose round included a hole in one at the seventh.

Ballymena amateur Dermot McElroy was in a large group sharing 15th place on 67

Local hope Shaw found himself at one over par on two occasions in his opening nine but five birdies in nine holes saw him improve to four under before he finished with a disappointing six at the long 18th.

Shaw, who shared fifth place at the Irish Open in June, is currently chasing a European Tour card for 2014 both from the Race to Dubai and Challenge Tour routes.

Shaw's 68 was matched by former Walker Cup player Jonathan Caldwell and Alan Dunbar but favourite and tournament ambassador Hoey carded a rather scrappy 70 which included four bogeys.

Recent Russian Open champion Hoey bogeyed three of his opening six holes to slip to two over and needed birdies at the 15th and last to better par.

Dunbar's 2011 Walker Cup team-mate Paul Cutler faces a battle to make Friday evening's cut after an opening 74.

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Hoey Enjoys Lamborghini Challenge

Michael Hoey roared into the car park of the Galgorm Castle Golf Club for the Northern Ireland Open Challenge presented by Clannah and XJET in a Lamborghini.

Hoey, who recently won his fifth European Tour title at the M2M Russian Open, is this week’s star attraction in his native Northern Ireland as he returns to his Challenge Tour roots to help further promote the game in his homeland. 

He certainly turned a few heads as he drove through the gates at Galgorm in his Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera LP570-4, a piece of machinery that can reach 62mph in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 202 miles per hour. 

“I have never driven anything like that before. I get it for the week and it is brilliant,” smiled Hoey, who is looking in the best physical shape of his career after embarking on a gluten-free diet on the advice of his nutritionist. 

“There is obviously a bit of a peacock element in driving a car like that which anyone who know me will know makes me a wee bit uncomfortable but it is just an amazing car to drive. 

“Everywhere you go people are looking at you though, or even taking pictures of you driving around. I have seen loads of people driving and taking pictures as I pass them! 

“The company that owns the cars – Supercar-Experiences – have always sponsored events here at Galgorm and they thought it would give them a bit of extra publicity to give me the car for the week. 

“It is pure adrenaline. I obviously had quite a few new friends the other day when I got the car and I must have taken ten people out for a spin and the adrenaline rush you get from driving it is unbelievable.” 

Hoey, and the rest of the field, will be looking for their own adrenaline injections on the golf course this week as they do battle for the lion’s share of the €170,000 prize fund.

Among the most notable names at Galgorm Castle will be European Tour winner Nick Dougherty and former Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson, while Galgorm’s own Gareth Shaw will hope to replicate the form that saw him finish fifth at the Irish Open in June around his home track.

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Hoey Drives NI Open Challenge

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Michael Hoey will make his first appearance in a regular Challenge Tour event for five years when he competes in this week’s inaugural Northern Ireland Open Challenge Presented by Clannah and XJET, a tournament he has helped to promote in his role as ambassador.

The five-time European Tour champion is one of 24 Irishmen, drawn evenly from the North and Republic of Ireland, who will tee up at Galgorm Castle Golf Club and Estates in Ballymena, Country Antrim.

Hoey’s most recent victory came in the M2M Russian Open at the end of July, and he comes into the event on the back of another solid performance in last week’s Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, where he finished in joint 28th place.

Whilst Hoey would dearly love to his tally of three Challenge Tour titles, much of the Ulsterman’s focus this week will be on his ambassadorial role for the €170,000 event.

He said: “I was more than happy to be the face of the tournament, and it’s a real honour and privilege to be able to help out the government and the Challenge Tour. I played on the Challenge Tour for a few years so I know how tough the competition is, and I’ll have to play very well just to contend.

“Some of the winning scores on the Challenge Tour this year and last have been unbelievable, so I’m under no illusions as to how difficult it’s going to be to get in contention, let alone win. There’s a huge difference in the standard from when I was playing five years ago to now.

“But my main aim this week isn’t necessarily to win the tournament – the main goal is to be an ambassador for the tournament. Hopefully everyone likes the venue, and we can have a great week. I’ve played the course three times on sponsors’ days this year, so I know it well. It’s a good parkland course and it’s in a beautiful location, so I’m sure the guys will enjoy playing there.

“The success of the Irish Open in Portrush showed what an appetite there is amongst the public for professional golf tournaments in Northern Ireland, so hopefully we can get some good crowds and keep the feel-good factor high.”

Calgorm Castle Golf Club’s touring professional Gareth Shaw will hope to build on some noteworthy results this season, with the highlight a top five finish in The Irish Open in June.

Shaw will be joined in County Antrim by his compatriots Paul Cutler and Alan Dunbar, the latter of whom won the 2012 Amateur Championship at Royal Troon. 

The duo formed a dynamic pairing in the 2011 Walker Cup, winning both their foursome matches as Great Britain & Ireland defeated their American counterparts 14-12 at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club.

Other notable names in the field include in-form Portuguese José-Filipe Lima, currently second in the Challenge Tour Rankings thanks to a series of eye-catching performances which includes a tied third place finish at last week’s Rolex Trophy; and Frenchman François Calmels, bidding to gain instant promotion to The European Tour with a third victory of the season. 

This week’s tournament will mark the first Irish Challenge Tour event since the 2009 Challenge of Ireland while the last time Northern Ireland hosted a Challenge Tour event was in 2003, when Darren Clarke won the Benmore Developments Northern Ireland Masters.

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Hoey Adds Fifth European Title

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Michael Hoey claimed his fifth European Tour title with a four-shot victory in the M2M Russian Open.

Hoey came into the final round with a five-shot lead at Tseleevo Golf & Polo Club near Moscow and his closing two-under 70 was good enough to hold off France's Alexandre Kaleka and Englishman Matthew Nixon.

Defending champion Kaleka shot a 68 to finish in a share of second place with Nixon, despite closing with his only bogey of the day at the 18th. By contrast Nixon birdied the last for a 69.

The 34-year-old Hoey had not finished better than 25th on the European Tour so far this season and missed seven of his last 10 cuts coming into the event.

But he held his nerve to add to his tally of European Tour victories - the last coming in the Trophee Hassan II in 2012 - and collect the winner's cheque for 166,660 Euros.

Hoey started steadily with six straight pars, before birdies at the seventh and eighth saw him move to 16 under and get to the turn five clear of his nearest pursuers.

His only dropped shot of the day came at the 12th and a birdie at 17 settled any late nerves.

Dane JB Hansen finished alone in fourth place after dropping two shots on the 18th for a 68, with China's Liang Wen-chong, France's Gregory Havret and Englishmen James Morrison and Mark Foster a shot further back on 10 under par.

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Hoey in Russian Moving Day

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Michael Hoey put himself in pole position for a fifth European Tour title as his scintillating return to form gathered pace at the M2M Russian Open.

The Northern Irishman - a four-time European Tour winner - had not finished better than 25th on The European Tour this season and missed seven of his last ten cuts coming into the event.

Opening rounds of 70 and 67 had left him one behind at the halfway stage, with the 34 year old talking of his need to cut out the mistakes from his game in order to challenge over the weekend.

And he did that in style, carding six birdies, one bogey and an eagle at the par five eighth in a best-of the-week 65 at Tseleevo Golf & Polo Club.

The seven under par round left Hoey, whose last success came at last year’s Trophée Hassan II, a 14 under par total and five shot lead with one round remaining.

“It was one of those days where everything went my way for the most part. I played really well and was swinging the club well, but I got a few breaks here and there that really helped the score,” said Hoey.

“I holed a 70 foot putt on the ninth for example – that was probably the biggest break I had out there. You just don’t really expect to hole those ones so that was a bit of a bonus.

“I started with a great birdie on the first to really set the tone. I hit a great eight iron in there to about five feet and then I had that great run around the turn. I holed out from off the green on the seventh and then the eagle on eight was nice. I hit driver then three iron to eight feet there.

“It was just going my way as I said. I made the monster putt on nine and then stiffed it on ten for another birdie. The only blip of the day was on 11 but I did have a lot go my way too.

“I am making a lot of putts this week and that is always the difference at this level. It’s all about putting.

“Obviously I have a good lead but you just can’t take it for granted. Things went my way today but it might be someone else’s day tomorrow. I am just going to go out there and try to enjoy it. I have been in positions to win before and finished it off and that will help a bit, but you still need to hit the shots and hole the putts.”

Halfway leader Rikard Karlberg and England’s Matthew Nixon are tied for second on nine under, the former recovering from four early dropped shots to post a level par 72 while Nixon carded a blemish-free 68.

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