The Northern Ireland pair travelled to Aruba, given next to no chance of making it to Mission Hills as Ireland's representatives in next month's World Cup in China.

"We've gelled really well since meeting up again a couple of weeks ago and he has given me a real confidence in my game, " Hoey says.

"I've been struggling with confidence lately and he's been a great help and I have encouraged him as well.

" We've also spent a little time on the beach after the rounds enjoying the paradise, so that's probably helped as well.

"I didn't know Gareth that well until the last few weeks.

"He's been in the States for the last few years playing on the Hooters Tour and doing well.

"I remember playing boys golf together about 10 years ago with him."

The pair endured a nightmare trip to the Southern Caribbean for the Nations Trophy qualifying event last week. They'd been competing in Kazakhstan on the European Challenge Tour the previous week.

"We crossed 10 time zones and when we arrived in Aruba at seven on Tuesday morning, we didn't know where we were but we went straight to the course and had a good look at it, then stayed up all day so we were really tired and slept well for the pro-am on Wednesday," said Maybin.

"We both have to thank the Irish Sports Council for funding our trip because without their help it might not have been possible. They have been very good to us."

Hoey's manager Conor Ridge spotted the opportunity for the two young Ulstermen once Padraig Harrington had pulled out, leaving Ireland needing to qualify for the China finals.

None of Ireland's other European Tour pros Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke nor Graeme McDowell were interested in the trip to Aruba.

"It was at a difficult time in the season - the week before the Dunhill links, Ryder Cup points have started and a few of the guys couldn't come to Aruba," said Hoey.

"Obviously myself and Gareth jumped at the chance to come here and qualify after Conor had entered us."

The Irish pair will join nine other qualifiers to make 28 competing nations in total in China. The format is straightforward knockout with the leading nations having a first round bye.

Most of the line-ups have been decided with Justin Rose and Ian Poulter for England, Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren for Scotland, Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jiminez for Spain.

Tiger Woods has won the event for the USA with two different partners but is not competing this time with Aaron Oberholser and Sean O'Hair representing the Americans.

As a World Golf Championship event, there is plenty of prize-money on offer and the Irish pair are guaranteed 25,000 US dollars apiece even if they fail to win a match.

But they have set their sights much higher than that and have high hopes of carrying on from where they left off in the qualifying tournament in the Dutch Caribbean.

"Its huge to represent Ireland and we both felt it over the last few holes," said Hoey. "We didn't want to let each other down or not qualify as a country."