Michael Hoey enters this week’s D+D REAL Czech Challenge in fine form — following back-to-back top tens on the European Challenge Tour — as he returns to Golf & Spa Kunětická Hora looking to build on a strong performance at this event last year.
The 39 year old, who currently sits in 22ndon the 2018 Road to Ras Al Khaimah, narrowly missed out on a quarter- final berth at last week’s match play event in Spain, but remains excited about the state of his game ahead of another visit to a course he knows well.
“It’s really, really good,” Hoey said. “I’m starting to putt well.
“I came up four yards short with a wedge and ended up with a bad lie. I made bogey after hitting a good shot – it was absolute fractions to lose 1up.
“If you’re three yards less you could win the hole instead of losing it, but I’m swinging it well at the moment and I’m just trying to stay positive.”
The five-time European Tour winner has proven that he knows what it takes to win at the highest level, which is why he has developed a strategy built around embracing the more difficult venues – which he believes has been a factor in his good start to the season.
“I’m trying to target courses that are a little bit tougher this year and the courses so far have been just that, which is good,” he said.
“The Challenge Tour is setting courses up tougher this year which is exactly what we need.”
Last year in the Czech Republic, the Northern Irishman carded four consecutive rounds in the 60s to finish in a three-way tie for fifth on 14 under par. Despite finishing nine shots behind the American winner Julian Suri, he says he has fond memories of the event.
“It’s a really nice course,” he said. “I played well last year and the weather is usually pretty good as well.
“If you hit the ball straight every course should suit your game, but it’s a more modern course with sloping greens and tough pins.”
There has been plenty of history made since the D+D REAL Czech Challenge was founded in 2012. Suri entered the event 438thin the Official World Golf Ranking, but used his win to propel himself to further success that saw him reach a career-best World Number 65 earlier this year.
Similarly, reigning US Open Champion Brooks Koepka helped to launch his breakthrough career when he shot the course-record 62 in the final round of the 2013 event.
The seventh edition of the D+D REAL Czech Challenge, which takes place in Drítec — about 90 minutes outside the Czech capital Prague — kicks off this Thursday as Challenge Tour Members continue to compete for a place in the top 15 in the season-long Rankings.
