Paul Casey is looking to regroup in the up-coming FedEx Cup Playoff Series after labelling his Major’s effort this year a ‘washout’.
Casey was first out for a second day running in carding a PGA Championship final round 72 for a 14-over par tally.
Paul Casey looking to again stand tall after a 'washout' year in the Major's. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
The Englishman, currently ranked No. 16 in the world, grabbed two birdies but also had double the number of bogeys in his ninth PGA Championship showing.
Casey, who has been struggling with an injured toe, played the final alongside one of the Atlanta Athletic Club’s teaching pros.
Casey’s share of 72nd ended a disappointing run in the Majors this year of the 34-year old Surrey golfer.
The affable English golfer underwent an MRI on his right foot following last month’s Open Championship and was informed he has a ‘turf toe’ – pain at the base of the big toe near the ball of the foot.
And Casey was clearly in pain during the recent Canadian Open, and could be observed limping on occasions during his four rounds in Atlanta.
“The toe still hurts but it is getting better, but then it is screwing the golf so badly,” he said.
“It is getting better, and the last two weeks have been infinitely better. At least there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
However it was little comfort to Casey when his caddy, Craig Connolly pointed out at the late in his round a mistake in his putting.
“Craig said to me on the 15th green today: ‘I can see what you are doing wrong. You are coming out of the stroke too early.’
“I said: ‘Great thanks, we have got three holes to go, and now you saying something’”.
However when asked by www.golfbytourmiss.com to provide a report card of his performances in the 2011 Majors, the winner of a dozen European Tour victories and one PGA Tour success, was very frank.
“The whole season has been a washout really, with the form and then I had the injury with my right toe,” said Casey.
“It has been so frustrating I am not even sure I can grade it. You have to complete a certain amount of coursework before you can grade it.”
Casey left Atlanta for next week’s Wyndham Championship in North Carolina lying 147th on the FedEx Cup Series points list and 22 spots shy of qualifying for the first event, commencing on August 25th in Edison, New Jersey.
“I want to play next week and extend my PGA Tour season,” he said.
“But then if I don’t play well next week, I will get the perfect amount of time to get my toe healed so I am ready to go for the rest of the season.
“Fortunately, there are no more Majors until next April, so it is satisfying to me but doesn’t mean anything.
“So what is left of the year is all self-rewarding but it is not like it is Majors or anything like that.”
If Casey should fail to qualify for the FedEx Cup Series, he confirmed he’ll return to Europe, and that could include representing GB & I against Europe in the Vivendi Seve Trophy starting on September 15th in Paris.
Of course, there is the start in Switzerland a fortnight earlier on first day of September of the 2012 Ryder Cup qualifying process.
“I have to look at the positive things as Ryder Cup qualifying will start fairly soon and I want to start cranking yourself up for that,” he said.
“The best case scenario for my golf is to win next week, keep it going it the FedEx Cup and see how far I go and then play in Asia for the rest of the year.
“Worst case scenario for my golf is if don’t play well next week, I will have an enforced break for a few weeks.
“I have a couple of events I will have to play in the Fall Series to make sure I play my 15.
“But then I might go and play the Vivendi Trophy in Europe what with it being in memory of Seve, so that would be a good one to go and support, and it should be a lot of fun, as well.
“So that would mean time off till the Vivendi and then I will go and play the Dunhill Links.”
