Hoey and Maybin in unfamiliar territory

After 10 years of having Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley flying their flag, Irish hopes in golf’s World Cup rest this week with two players ranked 583rd and 622nd in the world.

Michael Hoey and Gareth Maybin have flown to Aruba in the Caribbean for the 72-hole qualifying tournament starting tomorrow after Open champion Harrington’s decision not to play in the event proper in China in November dropped Ireland off the list of exempt nations.