Paul Casey reckons he’s found a novel way of getting back into a winning zone – watching videos of some of Hollywood’s biggest block-busters.
Casey and girlfriend, Pollyanna Woodward sat down last week in Akron, Ohio to watch the original Jaws movie along with Despictable 11.
Now the Englishman is looking to become PGA Championship Top Gun after this week viewing the Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis smash hit movie.
Paul Casey takes to the stage after his round of 67 on the first day of the PGA Championship. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
If anything a night at the movies seems to be helping as Casey revealed after posting a three under par 69 on the opening day of the year’s final major to leave Casey trailing just two shots behind clubhouse leader, Jim Furyk.
Casey started his round from the 10th hole with a bogey and then pared the next eight holes before two birdies in succession at his 10th and 11th holes.
He then dropped a shot at his 12th but birdied 13, 14 and his 16th for his lowest-ever PGA Championship round and only the second time the 36-year old has broken 70 in 17 rounds of the PGA.
“I started watching some old movies last week like Jaws, the original Jaws movie, and also Coming to America and Despictable 11 and they’ve been a great way of relaxing,” he said.
“This week we’re going to watch Top Gun. I was talking with Pol (Pollyanna) the other day trying to name all the fighter pilots in the movie – Jester, Viper, Maverick and Iceman.”
But on a more serious note, Casey revealed that during the week on The Open he underwent what will now be a regular routine for the triple European Ryder Cup star and that is undergoing every six to nine months, a cortisone injection into his right big toe.
It’s all result of his snow-boarding accident some years back.
“I wasn’t into The Open so I had it the week of Muirfield and it was a guided injection done under x-ray,” he said.
“I knew what would be involved and not bearing to look at the procedure I sort of chickened out and took a mate along with me.
“But it was brilliant and up until the injection I hadn’t had any problem with it for a year-and-a-bit. But I am advised by the doctor I am going to have to have the injection once every six to nine months for the rest of my playing career.
“I didn’t want them to cut my toe open so that’s why we went with the injection.
“I’ve also got not cartilage in that toe so that hasn’t helped matters.”
Casey indicated his management company, IMG have submitted the nature of the injection to the European Tour and there is no concern with the substance being injected being on any banned list.
“I was a little worried that it might be on the banned list of substances for the PGA Tour but they’ve come back saying all is okay.”
And Casey also revealed that while his toe will be of on-going concern his right shoulder, and the shoulder that he injured in the snow-boarding tumble, still gives him discomfort.
“When I lie on my right shoulder in bed, it sort of pops into a different position and hurts like hell,” he said.
And Casey went into his 11th PGA Championship in 12 years having not played a practice round on either Monday or Tuesday due to a head cold, and then with just 18 holes under his belt.
“This round has been building for quite a while and my score today has just steped up everything a notch,” he said.
“It’s funny because you really don’t know how good it is to play well in the Majors until you’ve been out of this situation. Right now it feels really good.”
