Hoey hits form in Qatar

Rory McIlroy is not the only Irish golfer to benefit from lengthy practice in Dubai, with Michael Hoey now reaping the reward after shooting 68 on day one of the Qatar Masters.

Hoey posted six birdies to be just four shots behind South African George Coetzee, who shot an eight under par 64 on the Doha Golf Club course.

Fellow South African Dawie Van Der Walt and England’s Steve Webster share second on seven under, with Webster claiming the second albatross in three events this year when he started his round holing a 254-yard second shot.

Hoey pent a month working on his long game at the Els Club in Dubai prior to Christmas under the guidance of Justin Parsons, the same Butch Harmon Academy-attached teaching pro who McIlroy worked with prior to finishing joint runner-up last week in Abu Dhabi.

“I played really well finishing 10th last week in Abu Dhabi and I’m now showing the benefit of not only working with Johnny Foster, my short-game coach, but also works with Justin, based in Dubai,” said Hoey.

“You saw last week how Rory responded to having a week or so with Justin before heading to Abu Dhabi, and he’s also back at the Els Club this week working with him and his full-time coach.”

Damien McGrane and Simon Thornton each signed for 70s while Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley was nearly the last to leave the range after he doubled the last in a score of 73.

Shane Lowry started his round with an eagle but posted a pair of doubles on his inward nine in a score of 76 while Peter Lawrie’s wretched run of form continues, signing for an 80. Darren Clarke will now have to wait until April’s Masters to celebrate his 500th Tour event after a chest injury forced him out without teeing up.