Hoey Enjoys Dunhill links Win

Michael Hoey is relishing playing in events he could only previously watch on television following his impressive win in the Dunhill Links Championship.

Hoey's two-shot success over fellow Northern Ireland star Rory McIlroy at St Andrews earnt him the winner's cheque for £515,000 and a place in this year's HSBC Champions event and next year's Bridgestone Invitational.

Both of those are World Golf Championship events limited to tournament winners and the top ranked players in the world, somewhere Hoey did not think he would be after six visits to the European Tour qualifying school and struggles which had him wondering if he wanted to keep playing the game.

"I've struggled with my belief," the 32-year-old former British Amateur champion admitted.

"At times I've thought I'm unbelievably good and at times I've felt I just don't have the consistency, which is what it's all about.

"I played in the US Masters in 2002 and then turned pro. I struggled and missed my card at the qualifying school and the next year I was playing on the EuroPro Tour and missing cuts. To go from Augusta to playing not great courses on the EuroPro Tour, it's a big change.

"It's taken a long time (to get to this point) but in a weird way you enjoy it more because you've struggled through six years of qualifying school. It's not nice when you're running out of money and you're confused about your golf swing and away every week travelling.

"It hasn't sunk in yet. Maybe when I'm playing the HSBC event and travelling with the guys next year to the States, maybe I'll think 'I belong, I've earned my way into these events by winning the Dunhill Links'.

"I've watched a lot of golf on TV and always thought if I can play in those events I'd be unbelievably happy. It's a dream come true."

Hoey began the final round three ahead of compatriot Graeme McDowell and five clear of McIlroy, only for McIlroy to card four birdies and an eagle in a brilliant front nine of 30 to move into the lead.

The US Open champion birdied the second and then holed his second shot to the par-four third for an eagle two, his approach pitching past the flag but spinning back into the hole.

Further birdies at the sixth, seventh and ninth took McIlroy top of the leaderboard before Hoey hit back from his second bogey of the day on the seventh with birdies at the eighth and ninth to draw level.

McIlroy pulled ahead again after a superb tee-shot on the par-three 11th finished just two feet from the hole, but that surprisingly proved to be the 22-year-old's last birdie of the day.

Hoey missed from four feet for birdie on the 14th after hitting two drivers to the front of the green - "I felt I was throwing this away at that stage," he admitted - but quickly put that disappointment behind him with birdies on the next two holes from close range to take a lead he would not relinquish.

Bradley Out of Presidents Cup - For Now

Keegan Bradley has expressed his disappointment at missing out on a place in the US Presidents Cup team.

The 25-year-old has enjoyed a memorable rookie season on the PGA Tour this year, following a debut win at the Byron Nelson in May with a maiden major triumph at USPGA Championship after a thrilling final round tussle with Jason Dufner.

With a total of four top-10s to his credit, many thought he would have done enough to secure a spot in Fred Couples' US team to face an International side in Australia in November.

However, despite his outstanding form, Bradley was overlooked by Couples who instead gave his two captain's picks to FedEx Cup winner Bill Haas and former world number one Tiger Woods.

A magnanimous Bradley took to Twitter after the news, stating: "Congrats to bill haas / @tigerwoods. They deserve the picks. Although I'm very disappointed, I'm very happy to have been considered. GO USA"

Explanation

Having already committed himself to offering one of his picks to Woods, Couples explained his decision to opt for Haas over Bradley.

"It just felt like in this instance, Bill Haas has played two years, never been outside the top 12 position (in the Presidents Cup rankings)," the US skipper said.

"He's been inside the top 10 most of the time. And you know, if Keegan would have finished fourth or fifth last week and Bill would have lost to Hunter Mahan, the others assistants will tell you that Keegan would have been chosen."

Couples went on to reveal that he had spoken to Bradley for 45 minutes as he gave him news of his decision and revealed that he could yet feature in the match.

With Steve Stricker still troubled by an arm injury that saw him pull out of the BMW Championship earlier in the month, Couples confirmed that Bradley would take his place should Stricker be unable to compete.

Meanwhile, Stricker was due to go for an MRI scan on Tuesday to confirm the extent of his injury.

But while the pick of Haas is entirely justifiable after his huge victory at East Lake last weekend, many feel that ignoring the claims of Bradley in favour of an ailing Woods has left Couples open to criticism.

Scrutiny on Woods

Woods had been sidelined for much of the season by an injury to his left knee and Achilles tendon that forced him to withdraw from the Players Championship in May.

He returned to competition in August, finishing in a tie for 37th at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and subsequently missed the cut at the USPGA Championship in Atlanta.

Having failed to qualify for the FedEx Cup play-offs, the 35-year-old has entered next week's Frys.com Open in California and will also play the Australian Open as a tune-up prior to the Presidents Cup.

There will be plenty of scrutiny and pressure on Woods to justify Couples' faith in him, but the 14-time major winner feels confident he now is on the road back to his best form.

"We're practicing very hard and I'm playing as much as I possibly can, something that I hadn't not done all summer, because I hadn't been cleared to do it," Woods explained.

"Now I have the clearance to do that. My training sessions are great. Strength has come back. My explosiveness has come back through my training, and now just trying to get my feel back, and it feels great."

2012 European Tour schedule

The schedule for the first six months of the 2012 European Tour season has been released with the new campaign beginning at the Africa Open on January 5.

That will be followed by the Joburg Open, also in South Africa,before The European Tour's 2011 tournament winners gather for the second edition of the Volvo Golf Champions.

Venue negotiations for the Volvo Golf Champions are in the final stages, the details of which will be announced shortly, with the 2 million Euro tournament to be played from January 19-22. Every European Tour champion of 2011, in addition to all players under the age of 50 who have amassed ten or more European Tour career victories, will be eligible to play in the event, creating a true tournament of Champions.

Other significant changes in the initial sector of the 2012 schedule include two new venues.

The Binhai Lake Golf Club in Tianjin, China, will host Volvo's 75th European Tour event, the Volvo China Open, while the Verdura Golf and Spa Resort, Sciacca, Sicily, is the venue for the Sicilian Open.

The Open de Espana will return to the Real Club de Golf de Sevilla, where Peter Lawrie and Alvaro Quiros won in 2008 and 2010 respectively, while the 20th anniversary edition of the Madeira Islands Open returns to Santo da Serra Golf Club.

Meanwhile, the Trophee Hassan II will change from its Pro-Am format back to a four round stroke play tournament, with 126 players competing at a single venue - the Golf Du Palais Royal in Agadir, Morocco.

The most significant date change in the first part of The 2012 European Tour International Schedule sees the Nordea Masters at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club in Stockholm, Sweden, move from its traditional July date - the week after the Open Championship - to the earlier date of Wednesday, June 6 - Saturday, June 9.

Tournament Organisers at the Nordea Masters have decided to finish the tournament on a Saturday to allow those players competing in the following week's US Open Championship at the Olympic Club in San Francisco an additional day to make the journey from the Swedish capital to America's west coast.

The European Tour's flagship event, the 4.5 million Euro BMW PGA Championship will again see the world's golfing spotlight turned on the West Course at Wentworth Club, from May 24-27, when world number one Luke Donald will defend the Tour's most coveted title.

Keith Waters, Chief Operating Officer and Director of International Policy for The European Tour, said: "There is always a great sense of anticipation when thoughts turn to a new season and we believe the initial sector of our 2012 International Schedule delivers a diverse, global schedule that can enable our Members to continue their historic achievements of the past two years.

"With landmark events in South Africa, the Middle East, India, Asia, the USA and, of course, Europe, we are confident our International Schedule offers modern golfers the opportunity to showcase their talents on the world stage.

2012 Schedule

The Concentration - Azahara Muñoz

Azahara Munoz of Europe tees off on the 9th hole during the afternoon fourballs on day two of the 2011 Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle Golf Club on September 24, 2011 in Dunshaughlin, County Meath, Ireland. (September 23, 2011 - Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images Europe)

Captain Nicholas to Stand Down

Alison Nicholas insists she plans to stand aside as captain following Europe's memorable Solheim Cup triumph over America on Sunday and revealed a pep talk from Suzann Pettersen had played a crucial part in the triumph.

In a thrilling climax at Killeen Castle, Europe produced a sensational late charge in the singles matches to snatch a 15-13 victory over their US counterparts.

Pettersen led the way as she birdied the final three holes of her match with Michelle Wie to clinch an unlikely point while rookie Caroline Hedwall fought back from two down against Ryann O'Toole to secure a vital half.

Fellow rookie Azahara Munoz then got Europe over the line as she held her nerve to edge out Angela Stanford sparking wild celebrations in County Meath as Europe ended a run of three successive defeats in the event.

Nicholas was full of praise for the trio and disclosed that Pettersen had rallied the troops ahead of the dramatic finale.

Pep talk

"We had some rain delays and we were in the clubhouse, and when they were taking the players back out to their positions to restart the three of them (Pettersen, Hedwall and Munoz) shared a cart and they had a pep talk with one another and they said 'come on, we need our points'," she explained to Sky Sports News.

"Suzann initiated that and her leadership, and the fact the rookies took it on board, was the perfect scenario."

But Nicholas was full of praise for her entire team, adding: "We went out on won it, we won the singles fair and square and that is something I've always believed we can do, we've just lacked a bit of belief in ourselves to actually take them on head to head.

"But now I think they can go forward and I think we should look to two years' time and see if we can win it in America for the first time."

However, the diminutive 49-year-old insisted she would not be leading the team at the 2013 match in Colorado.

"No, I've done my time," she smiled. "I'm very happy and I need to hand the baton on. It's important that other players deserve that opportunity and honour."

Pettersen praise

Pettersen was quick to pay tribute to the European skipper, labelling her an inspiration to the players.

"She (Nicholas) can leave now, she's got her win," the Norwegian stated. "I've known Ally for a while, last time we came close and this time she wanted it desperately.

"She's great; she's tiny but she's fiery. She has guts and she'll do what she thinks is right for the team and sometimes that's making hard calls which is not always a pleasant thing to do but she can do it and she stands up for herself.

"She's a great leader and a great inspiration for the rest of us."

Pettersen also revealed the celebrations following the triumph stretched long into the night, adding: "It's sad it's over because it's so much fun and it was a great party last night. You can't ask for any better, especially here in Ireland in front of all the crowds.

"It's amazing, it was almost an impossible challenge and we pulled it off so it's definitely one of the best ones I've ever been a part of."