British Amateur champion Michael Hoey is winding up for his US Masters debut, a full nine months before he gets to Augusta.

The Belfast boy, who wowed the professionals with a spectacular final round 64 in the Loch Lomond World Invitational just two weeks ago, is ready to launch major assault on the pro circuit while remaining an amateur.

"I know I could have won around £40,000 for my finish at Loch Lomond but I'll be staying an amateur until after the Masters. I just want to play in as many pro tournaments as I can," he said.

Thanks to his victory at Prestwick the 22 year old could play in as many as a dozen professional tournaments between now and his first trip down Magnolia Lane. With his Walker Cup debut against the USA just two weeks away, Hoey is preparing himself mentally to give the hosts a shock at Sea Island in Georgia.

"I'm thinking about the Walker Cup alright, it's going to be really huge and we've got a great team. Unlike other years they know a lot of us because we've won events in the States so I think we have a great chance of beating them."

But with Mark McCormack's IMG Group and Andrew "Chubby" Chandler's ISM group vying for Hoey's signature, the Shandon Park man is already thinking about his schedule for the rest of the year.

He said: "I'm still working out what group to go with, there are a lot of them, but there are a few managers that have offered to get me into tournaments so I'm hoping to play in quite a few professional events between now and the Masters."

The Trophee Lancôme near Paris, where Tiger Woods is set to tee it up, and the Linde German Masters the week after the Ryder Cup are just two of the tournaments Hoey is hoping to play in before the end of the European Tour season.

"As Amateur champion sponsors can be quite open to requests for a place in the field and I just want o get as much experience as I can," he added.

Last winter Hoey made a winter trip to Australasia, playing in several amateur events. And he hopes to repeat the trip in January and February as part of his preparation for Augusta. "I really enjoyed Australia and I'd love to play in the three or four events there in January and February.

The Vines and the Greg Norman Holden International and the New Zealand Open are possibilities and then I'll probably go on to the States."

"There's no point in coming home to play on muddy greens when Augusta's greens are 12 on the stimpmeter so I'll be going to the US and hoping to play maybe in the Bay Hill and the Honda Classic. And there's also a possible match with the US Amateur champion in Atlanta too."

Wary of putting his amateur status in jeopardy, Hoey is careful about the financial implications of playing around the world.

"I've been offered practice facilities near Atlanta when I get to the US but I'll have to hope that I can get help with travel expenses from sponsors. As I say, I'm being careful about protecting my amateur status and having a flight paid for wouldn't be a breach."

But while Lytham trophy winner Dave Dixon went on to win the silver medal as top amateur at he Open and has now turned professional, Hoey is in no hurry.

"I guess there are always going to be a couple of disappointments. But he did well at Lytham and I hope things go well for him. He must have had a lot of phone calls during the Open," added Hoey.

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Hot swinger Graeme McDowell has swapped the sweltering heat of La Manga in Spain for the cool breezes of Lahinch.

Ulster players McDowell and Michael Hoey are just back from a Walker Cup team trip to sunny Spain, to help them acclimatise to golf in high temperatures before next month's showdown with the USA in steamy Georgia. But now McDowell is at Lahinch, where he will begin his defence of the Shell South of Ireland title in the second round tomorrow (Sunday).

The 100th edition of the 'South' begins today with Portrush kid McDowell installed as the favourite to win his first domestic title of the season.

Victory earns the champion a place in the Shell Houston Open on the US Tour next season and McDowell is determined to repeat the experience.

Said the 21 year old: "The South is a hard championship to win but I'm pretty confident. I'd love to play in the Houston Open again. I missed the cut last time by being too aggressive but I've learned my lesson."

Longer than ever off the tee, thanks to a new Taylor Made 360 driver he picked up in the States, McDowell will be the man to beat at Lahinch.

"I'm hitting it maybe 15 or 20 yards further and there's no danger of being penalised for an illegal driver because it's an American model."

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Gary Player might have missed the cut in last year's Senior British Open, but he just loves to come back to Ireland.

In fact, the man in black still remembers of one of his first visits to Ireland, 41 years ago.

He said: "I'll never forget playing in the Canada Cup at Portmarnock in 1960. What a course! I hear it's in fantastic condition again. And what great players Christy O'Connor and Harry Bradshaw were. Ireland has had so many great champions and great courses. I just love coming here."

Bradshaw didn't play that week as Norman Drew was controversially selected to partner O'Connor to a fourth place finish behind Arnold Palmer and Sam Snead. But it's no wonder that Player should remember Portmarnock with such fondness.

He shot a course record 65 that stood for 28 years before Sandy Lyle shot a 64 in the 1989 Carroll's Irish Open. Double major winner Tony Jacklin made a happy return visit to Royal County Down this week ­ 35 years after being refused access to the clubhouse.

"I'll never forget it," he said. "It was the day before my wedding to Vivienne, my first wife and I played with my future father in law. But they wouldn't let us into the clubhouse so we had to go to a café down the road for lunch.

"Times have changed though and everyone's been just wonderful this time."

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While the cat's away the mice will play. And with Ireland number one Alison Coffey in action in the Vagliano Trophy, her main rivals will be keen to take the Irish Ladies' Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Birr golf club this weekend.

Claire Coughlan, Elaine Dowdall and Hazel Kavanagh are the favourites to take to win the 54-hole - Waterford Crystal sponsored event which starts today (Sat). Whatever happens, they won't catch Coffey in the Order Of Merit.

The Warrenpoint tops the list with 1360 points ­ a massive 840 points clear of her nearest rivals.

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© Brian Keogh 2001

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