Michael Hoey retires from professional golf to become DP World Tour referee

Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey has announced his retirement from professional golf to become a referee on the DP World Tour. Hoey, a five-time winner on the European Tour and part of the victorious Walker Cup team in 2001, will begin his new role in South Africa next month as a referee. "It's exciting, a new challenge," the 43-year-old told BBC Sport. "When the pandemic started in 2020 I started learning the rules and looking into that as I didn't really know where the future lay. "I missed that whole year but had quite a good year last year and did quite well at the Dunhill Links so I proved to myself I could still play. "But I've just turned 43 and I see so many good young players on the Challenge Tour now, it's hard to make a living. "I'll always miss the thrill of competition but I've had two years to think about this and while I enjoyed it last year, you have to make a living out of it too and I'm happy with where I am."

From Ballymoney, Hoey turned pro in 2002, winning five times on the then European Tour, all his victories coming between 2009 and 2013. His most recent victory was in the M2M Russian Open in July 2013.