Mike Hoey's Tour Diary (Part 2)

This year GCD is honoured to have five time European Tour winner Michael Hoey write his Tour diary.  You can follow Mike on facebook here a...

This year GCD is honoured to have five time European Tour winner Michael Hoey write his Tour diary.  You can follow Mike on facebook here and on twitter here.

Hi everybody, Mike here.  I’m back from my recent trip to Malaysia and boy was it tough! The conditions were so smothering I struggled to get enough fluids and food on board.  To cope best you actually need to eat as well as drink so it’s a tough battle.  Even little things like taking the right clothes was a huge part of the preparation; black was a definite no-no and finding a hat that wasn’t too thick was a challenge.  Most important though was getting the right suncream, something not too greasy yet provides protection too. You look around at the locals and wonder how the cope, I guess they get used to it and have adapted.  Actually seeing them other places in the world which are cooler is funny as you'll be in shorts and t-shirts they're in jumper and jeans!  It tends to happen in Dubai a lot in December to February!

Thank goodness my card is all but secured now for next year.  It has been on my mind this year, it’s the first time I haven't had an exemption for the following season since 2011.  It is a different kind of pressure especially if the first few events don't go well.  Now with that weight lifted off my shoulders it’s all about making the final series and finishing as high up as possible on the Race to Dubai.

The US Open at Pinehurst is a big topic of debate in our household at the minute.  Timing is not good. It's the week before the Irish Open which is always a hugely emotional event for me.  So it’s like do you go do the qualifier which is at a busy time of the season (Spain, Wentworth, Sweden) and then hopefully qualify,  then have just under a week at home and head to the US, then come back to Cork with jet lag?  I really enjoyed The Open and the US PGA in 2012 so to play in another major would be fantastic.

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We are getting into the meat of the European Tour season now with some big events coming up, which is great.  I used to get worked up about the bigger tournaments but now I try and prepare the same way for them all.  If you're playing well they all end up suiting you.

Funky Crans!

I really do like Wentworth though, hopefully the greens will be good this year and of course I like the Irish where ever it is.  The Scottish is always fun, I have a big family group following me, all Bev’s cousins  come out. I like Crans too, it’s so pretty but is a funky course.

I often get asked about my equipment, there’s so much new stuff coming out it’s sometimes hard to keep track!  Our equipment sponsors do encourage us to use the newest clubs but they don't push me too hard; the Titleist guys are good that way.  They'd rather you were comfortable and played well than push the merchandise and play crap.  I do get excited and I love it when I get new clubs, even if they're exact replacements of the existing ones!

I'm looking forward to the new TV series of ‘24’ and want to see ‘Bad Neighbours’.  I’ve just finished the box set of Californication!  I’ll have to ask my manager (my better half Bev) what to watch next.
Speaking of my Manager, she forgot to book me a hotel last week, thankfully Kevin Phelan sorted me out and let me share with him.  She has been warned but she's not been well and Erin keeps her busy too!  I guess I'll deduct payment,  forfeit for a handbag or shoes or tell her not to pay herself!

Finally for this diary entry, I’d like to talk about Iain “Mac” McGregor, who so sadly passed away in Madeira.  Mac worked for me from March to July 2009 and we won the Estoril Open de Portugal in April of that year after a playoff with Gonzalo Castano.

Mac was a fun guy always laughing and joking and great craic in the pubs around Europe.  Mac was also a really interesting guy he served in the army in Zimbabwe, then became a cabinet craftsman and finally got into caddying.  He was never happier than when in the bush in Africa; last December at Leopard Creek we were all sat by the river at night and Mac was getting us to be quiet as he could sense a herd of elephants close by. He was able to tell which animals were making the sounds, he was in his element.  Anytime a helicopter flew by the course he would tell me which type and if it was military.

Mac was also a very good caddie, a really good judge of wind and air temperature, his relaxed approach and humour helped during the long five hour rounds on Tour.

We will all miss him.

See you next time.
Mike

Check out Mike's official website here.