It may still be four weeks to the start of the 2014 European Ryder Cup qualifying process but England’s Paul Casey can’t wait to get to the ISPS Hansa Wales Open.
Because of a conflict of watch-makers Celtic Manor will play host to the commencement of qualifying rather than Switzerland.
Casey is finally again showing the form that earned him Ryder Cup representation in 2004, 2006 and 2008 as evident with victory in the recent Irish Open.
This week he has returned to the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational for a first time in two years while he play his second Major Championship of 2013 when he tees up next Thursday in the PGA Championship at Oak Hill.
Paul Casey and the reigning Irish Open champion counting the days to the start of Ryder Cup qualifying. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
And Casey’s management team also have been able to secure an invitation for Casey to contest next fortnight’s PGA Tour Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina in hopefully could be the first steps in Casey regaining his PGA Tour card.
Casey’s Carton House triumph was his 12th success on the European Tour and took his earnings through the Euro 15m prize money barrier since joining the tour full time in 2001.
So now after a spate of injuries and personal disappointments Casey is naturally enjoying his golf and really looking forward to the Wales Open.
“I am looking forward to the start of the Ryder Cup qualifying process because I am playing good golf,” he said.
“It is easy to look forward to things like that when the golf is in good shape (smiling).
“But before the Wales I’ve got I’ve also got the PGA Championship and I’ve been fortunate to receive an invitation to play in the Wyndham Championship the week after Oak Hill.
“So there is much to look forward to.
“It means I will then head back to Wales for the start of Ryder Cup qualifying then play then take the week of Gleneagles off and play Switzerland and the KLM Open.
“Brian Marchbank at Gleneagles will have kittens that I’m not playing the Johnnie Walker (captured the 2006 Johnnie Walker Championship) but playing five in a row is too much.
“The good thing also is that I am into the bigger European Tour events at the end of the year and that will make things a lot easier, for sure.
“Also the big goal for the start of next year is to also get myself back into WGC Match-Play and the WGC – Cadillac Championship or otherwise I will have to play in the Middle East and then what do you do for two months?”
Casey made his Ryder Cup debut in 2006 at Oakland Hills and in three straight Ryder Cup’s his record is:
Nine matches, three wins, four halves and two loses.
