Hoey happy with momentum

Michael Hoey believes a good finish to last season is the main reason behind his good start to the 2009 European Tour after he carded an opening round seven-under-par 64 at the Joburg Open yesterday.

That score put the Northern Irishman a shot behind overnight leaders Steven Jeppesen and Trevor Fisher Jr and quickly erased memories of his disappointing 75 on the opening day at last year’s tournament, which led to him eventually missing the cut.

He will have to work hard to maintain his position on day two of the co-sanctioned Sunshine and European Tour event with six players – Alfredo Garcia-Heredia, Edoardo Molinari, Patrik Sjoland, Andrew McLardy, Rafael Cabrera Bello and David Drysdale – breathing down his neck at six-under-par.

But after his opening round on the east course at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club this time around, Hoey admits he is just pleased to be on the right end of the standings.

He said: “I am pretty happy, I mean I played here last year and the weather wasn’t great. It didn’t help as I wasn’t playing well at all. I knew then that the east course was playing tough, it was really long.

“But today it was pretty hot so the ball was going longer and that helped. I got off to a good start as well, so it was pretty good.

“I had probably one of the only poor swings of the day on 17 and that cost me. But I actually played solid today.

“It was nice to hit a good shot at the start this year. It sort of settles the nerves a little bit. I hit a really good drive and nine iron, it came off well and that made a big difference.”

Hoey won the Challenge Tour’s Banque Populaire Moroccan Classic last year, before two top 10 finishes in his last four tournaments and he admits that the finish to 2008 has helped him immensely.

He continued: “I just haven’t been consistent enough on the Challenge Tour, but I’ve had a couple of wins in the last two years. I started playing consistent towards the end of the year.

“I had a fourth place in Morocco, which was four shots behind Ernie (Els), so I got a lot of confidence from that, so I’ve been playing okay.

“Then I played well in the SA Open, so I have taken a bit of confidence from that. I was in the lead at one stage but had a few poor back nines and eventually finished 11th. So I’m feeling a bit more confident again.”

The 29-year-old, a former British Amateur Championship, has had an up and down time since turning pro in 2002, but is optimistic that he is now coming to terms with his game.

“I had my full status in 2006 and it’s been partial since then,” he added. “I didn’t do well in 2006, but I’ve learnt a lot now.

“I’ve learnt a lot about my swing and about how much to practice. So, I’m trying my best for consistency.”