Old Westbury, Long Island, NY …
Paul Casey contends those contesting this week’s FedEx Cup Play-Off opener will wear out the driver tackling the expansive Glen Oaks layout on New York’s Long Island.
Casey heads a strong contingent of seven Brits, including four-time Major winning Rory McIlroy, teeing-up in the Northern Trust and the opening event of the four-tournament Play-Off series.
The 27-hole layout was only opened in 1969 and it encompasses a vast area so much so one caddy commented: “It is so vast it’s like Erin Hills (venue for U.S. Open) but with trees”.
John McLaeren and caddy to Paul Casey watches as Casey hits his approach shot into the 11th hole during Wednesday’s Northern Trust Pro-Am. (Photo – @Tourmiss)
Glen Oaks is also hosting its biggest event of any note and with just one player prior to this week, and that is American Scott Brown, who is known to have previously played the course.
Casey, who turned 40 a month ago, arrived on Long Island having contested 20 events this year and with his best finish coming in the very first event of the 2016/17 season and that was T3rd mid-October last year.
And the highligt of Casey’s season was his third straight strong showing at the Masters finishing T6th after having also been sixth in 2015 and then fourth to fellow Englishman Danny Willet last year.
Though it was this time last year Casey went so close to capturing only his second PGA Tour victory finishing runner-up to Rory McIlroy in the Deutsche Bank Championship and then second to Dustin Johnson in the BMW Championship.
Paul Casey drives off the 12th hole at Glen Oaks during Wednesday’s Pro-Am (Photo – @Tourmiss)
The efforts handed the Phoenix-based a career-best of fifth overall in the FedEx Cup standings.
“I had a final round grouping at the Deutsche Bank a year ago where we struggled and I played good but the other two guys didn’t and that was a really tough day for me as Rory came through playing a great round,” he said.
“Then I went to the BMW in Indianapolis and ran into Dustin Johnson who was playing some of his best golf.
“But in saying that I am looking forward to these next few weeks as I feel the whole thing about the FedEx Cup is growing nicely.
England’s
Paul Casey drives off the 13th at Glen Oaks during Wednesday’s Northern Trust Pro-Am. (Photo – @Tourmiss)
“The Play-Offs are now something the guys really give it their full attention though in saying that I do think there could be a play-off element to it, in that you need to play every single one of them”.
Casey will tee-up ranked 18th on the standings and the highest ranked Brit in this week’s 120-players $US 8.75m event.
However, after contesting Wednesday’s Pro-Am, and in the process seeing the course for a first occasion, Casey knows his long-game will be the key this week.
“I think if you can carry it more than 310-yards and like two players in the field you will have a massive advantage this week,” he said.
“And unlike last week at the Wyndham where Henrik (Stenson) went into the event without a driver in his bag, this week you are going to wear out the driver.
“There was only a couple of holes out there in the Pro-Am today I didn’t hit driver and even one of those holes on the front nine, I said to Johnny (McLean – Caddy) I probably should have hit driver”.
