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Golf: Hoey holds off McIlroy to win Dunhill Links

Dunya News

Michael Hoey held off Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell to win Dunhill Links Championship.

Michael Hoey held off fellow Northern Irishmen Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship by two shots on Sunday.Hoey, who began the week at 271 in the world rankings, carded a final round of 68 for a 22-under-par total of 266 to claim his second European Tour title of the season.The 32-year-old from Ballymoney had also won the Madeira Open, having clinched his first tour title in 2009 at Estoril.McIlroy, the US Open champion, finished with a 65, with McDowell, the 2010 US Open winner, sharing third alongside Scotlands George Murray a further two strokes back.It hasnt sunk in yet and it wont for a while, Hoey admitted.Its taken a long time but I supposed in a weird way you enjoy it more because you have struggled through six goes at the qualifying school.Its not nice running out of money, being away from home, questioning your swing, and there are points where you wonder Do I want to continue with this.Hoey, 32, began the final round three ahead of McDowell and five clear of McIlroy, only for McIlroy to card four birdies and an eagle in a brilliant front nine of 30 to move into the lead.McIlroy admitted he was disappointed not to have secured his third European Tour title, the 22-year-old playing the first 11 holes in seven-under-par but then failing to pick up another birdie.
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