Hoey hoping to deliver full package at Galgorm

Michel Hoey competing at Galgorm Castle. Photo: PressEye

Michael Hoey is raring to deliver in this week’s €200,000 Northern Ireland Open after working for three months on a DHL conveyor belt during the lockdown.

“Most guys I’ve been speaking to have actually had jobs," said five-time European Tour winner (41), who is one of 16 Irish players in action at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort, which will host the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open later this month.

“They’ve been living in the real world when most of them have never lived the real world their whole lives. 

“I actually entered the real world myself with a job, which kept me busy because you can’t make any money and you are losing sponsors because small businesses are struggling .”

Feeling fit as a fiddle after his night shift efforts, Hoey added: “I went was doing 12 miles a night. I stuck at it for over three months - lifting off a belt all night. It was all really heavy DIY stuff. It was certainly character building.” 

As for the course, he believes it will be low scoring, especially for the Irish Open and predicts a winning score of around 20-under par.