Casey keeps Cup off his mind
Paul Casey is determined not to become a sufferer this summer from what his World Cup-winning partner Luke Donald calls "rydercupitis".
If he can produce a few more rounds like the 67 with which he began the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles yesterday, Casey should have no worries.
The English golfer, who went into today’s second round in joint second place two behind Dane Thomas Bjorn, lies sixth in the race for places in Ian Woosnam’s side.
“I’d love to be part of that team and it’s a huge goal, but I have to take every week as it comes. Right now I’m concentrating on this,” he said.
“I try not to look at the points table too often because you can get wrapped up in it. I think I may have been like that the last time in trying to qualify. That becomes the goal every week rather than trying to win the golf tournament you are attending.”
The 28-year-old, who had a nightmare time in the middle of last year, is now in a rich vein of form.
He has not had anything worse than 20th since the end of February and was 15th at last week’s US Open.
Best finish in the run was second at the Irish Open last month – one behind Bjorn, who birdied the last two holes while Casey three-putted the last for par.
He would love to turn the tables on Sunday – and if he does it without the need of a play-off he will then be able to watch England try to beat Ecuador as well.
That is because the finish time has been brought forward an hour to 3.45pm so that golf fans can then switch over to the soccer.
Championship director Graeme Marchbank said: “We believe that this decision will best serve our golf fans in their enjoyment of what will be an outstanding afternoon’s sport.
“Television coverage will commence one hours earlier than previously announced and will end at 4pm.” That is kick-off time in Stuttgart.
