TPC Boston, MA …. There is no questioning Paul Casey’s determination to again play in a European Ryder Cup team but during the week of this year’s Ryder Cup the Englishman will be riding a push bike somewhere in France.

Casey is helping caddy John McLaren celebrate his up-coming 50th birthday in participating in their own ‘Tour de France’.

“John’s been on my bag since the Hero World Challenge last year and I was really excited that he took the leap,” said Casey after posting a five under par 66 to be one shot off the lead after the opening day of the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston.

ESPN’s Michael Williams with a great reaction to a Paul Casey comment post the Englishman’s round of 66 at TPC Boston. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

“And with his 50th birthday coming up pretty soon I’m going to join him riding around France.  I don’t know where we are going to be riding but it should be great fun.”

Casey is a veteran of three victorious European Ryder Cup teams but he caused some controversy by declining to retain European Tour membership and thus rule himself out of qualifying for Darren Clarke’s side.

So with less than a month to go to competition starts at Hazeltine Casey was asked what his thoughts where ahead of the Hazeltine showdown and given, for a first time in many years he’s not been a part of the European Team qualifying process.

“It’s really weird actually.  It’s a bit strange,” he said.

“It’s going to be an interesting one, sitting, being on the outside.  I’ve been on the outside before but for different reasons.  You know, I watched a certain amount, as I do a lot of events.  If I’m not in the Masters and things like this in the past, I watch but not really closely until maybe the last nine holes.

Paul Casey desperate to win for only a second time on the PGA Tour. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

“It’s the same with the Olympics.  I watched a little bit starting off and then I was just pretty engrossed in sort of the last half dozen holes, as I’m sure I will be with the Ryder Cup.

“Not being a factor, not being part of whether I make the team or not this time around, you lose that churning in the stomach because I’ll tell you right now, you wake up in the morning and if this week was counting towards qualifying and you’re in but not solid or you’re just on the outside trying to make it or you’ve got no chance but you might be a pick, whatever the scenario, there’s always a little churning in the stomach, some butterflies in there.

“It will be very similar to something you get when you’re leading a tournament.  You get on a Thursday morning at something that doesn’t seem that we do week in and week out.  So it’s weird not having that.”

Casey’s opening round of 66 has placed him again in frame to win for only a second time on the PGA Tour after capturing the 2009 Shell Houston Open.

And it was an obvious answer when asked is he desperate for another PGA Tour victory toast or does he stay patient and just wait for it still to happen?

“Pretty hungry”, he said.

“I’ve been working hard with Johnny (caddy) on things like distance control and working on some different shots and on the putting, but it’s very much time to try and make that hard work pay off if we can.”