Casey eyes double success
Before the final of last week's World Match Play Championship, Paul Casey was asked whether he would prefer to win at Wentworth or lift the Ryder Cup. Now he has one, he would love the other.
Four years ago, Tiger Woods sparked a real debate about how much the Ryder Cup meant to him when he opted for a world championship win.
But Casey replied: "I'm not greedy. I hope to play this game for a long time, so I would take a team win next week."
However, with the £1million first prize safely secured with a 10&8 thrashing of Shaun Micheel on Sunday, Casey can now afford to be greedy and seek glory at the K Club as well, as part of Ian Woosnam's European team.
"I can't control everything this week, there's another 23 guys here that are going to determine that but it's great to be here," said Casey, who renewed his World Cup winning partnership with Luke Donald on the opening day of practice yesterday.
"Last week I played some wonderful golf, and maybe got a little but lucky as well, but that's all out of the window now.
"Anybody can beat anyone else this week, you're going to have to pay some wonderful golf, control the nerves and see what happens on Sunday."
Casey played just once before losing to Tiger Woods in the singles on his debut at Oakland Hills - albeit securing a vital win with fellow rookie David Howell - and would love to feature more prominently as the home side go in search of an unprecedented third straight victory.
"After last week I'd love to play five matches," added the 29-year-old, who was scheduled to play 36 holes on four straight days at Wentworth but was never taken past the 33rd in victories over Retief Goosen, Mike Weir, Colin Montgomerie and Micheel.
"I think I'm fit enough to play that many but it comes down to Ian and the pairings, who I'm compatible with.
"I'm very happy to play with any of the guys on the team. Obviously I have a lot of history playing with Luke in the World Cup and Walker Cup and with Howler (Howell) last time around.
"I'm eager to play as much as possible and I'm at Ian's disposal. If that means one or two matches, fine; it it means all five that's brilliant."
Casey was reminded of his comments in a newspaper interview a few weeks after the victory at Oakland Hills in which he said Europe's side "properly hate" the Americans while the Ryder Cup is being played.
They were comments which then appeared in a tabloid under the headline "Americans are stupid. I hate them".
And equally unsurprisingly he was keen to play down the intensity of the occasion.
"I made a mistake last time around," added Casey, up to a career high 17th in the world. "I regret what happened and some of the reporting was out of my control as well.
"But these are 24 friends here. If we look at the bigger picture this is just a game. There are things which are a lot more serious going on in the world, and if you look at the US and the UK, we're allies.
"If you think about it, the troops that are out there defending our respective countries, they would love to be here watching this, being entertained, and we have to remember that.
"It gets passionate out there. This always provides wonderful memories, wonderful entertainment, but that's all it really is at the end of the day."
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