Michael Hoey managed to hold off a late fight back from
US Open champion Rory McIlroy to claim the Dunhill Links Championship by two strokes yesterday.
The Northern Irishman, ranked 271st in the world at the start of the week, carded a cool final round 68 to finish on 22-under and hold off the challenge of McIlroy, whose closing 65 made him sweat.
Sunday's win is Hoey's second European Tour title of the season and he said the victory was made more enjoyable as it would safeguard his future in the game.
"It's taken a long time but I suppose in a weird way you enjoy it more because you have struggled through six goes at the qualifying school," he claimed.
Hoey began the final round three shots clear of McDowell and five clear of McIlroy only for the US Champion to card four birdies and an eagle on the front nine, piling the pressure on his compatriot.
Birdies on the 16th and 17th holes ensured that Hoey would be going home with the winner's cheque and left McIlroy reflecting on what could have been.
"It's good to be one, two, three and see all of us boys up there, I'm just obviously disappointed that it wasn't me lifting the trophy," he said.
Kevin Na secured his first PGA Tour title with a win at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas, finishing two strokes ahead of Nick Watney.
Na closed with a six-under par 65 to finish on 23-under and ensured he bested two-time tour winner Watney, whose closing 67 was enough for second place.
The pair began the final round tied for the lead but Na's solid round meant that he was never behind Watney during the day.
Birdies on the 15th, 16th and 17th ensured there would be no tense finish and he came away with his maiden tour title.
"I'm just very excited about my first win. It wasn't easy. Nick was coming right behind me," Na added.
Tiger Woods' struggles look set to continue, however, he is set to drop out of the world's top 50 for the first time for 778 weeks.
Since October 1996 Woods has been in the top 50 and for 623 weeks he was world number one, but the troubled star has paid for a poor season, which culminated in him missing the cut at the USPGA Championship in August.
Despite recently being picked as a wild card in the United States Presidents Cup team against an international side in November, Woods continues to struggle.
