Casey's form takes sudden dip
Just four days after claiming his fifth European Tour title, Paul Casey came crashing back to earth in the UBS Hong Kong Open.
Casey fired a final round 65 in the Volvo China Open in nearby Shenzhen on Sunday, wiping out a five-shot deficit before beating fellow Englishman Oliver Wilson in a play-off.
The win lifted Casey back into the world’s top 50 – he rose 12 places from 61st to 49 – which will guarantee him a place in next year’s US Masters if he can remain there at the end of the year.
But the chances of the 28-year-old earning any more world ranking points was already looking slim to say the least after the Ryder Cup star slumped to six over par at Fanling Golf Club.
Starting on the 10th, Casey ran up a double bogey six at the 11th and then dropped four more shots in the space of five holes to go to the turn in 42.
He was at least not alone in struggling to maintain last week’s form, Wilson going to the turn in 41 to lie five over.
Surrey’s Ross Fisher was faring even worse at eight over par for the front nine. Fisher led after the third round in China and finished joint fourth, two shots out of the play-off.
Canada’s Rick Gibson was setting the early pace on four under par after 15 holes, one ahead of a group of players including Doncaster’s Ian Garbutt.
Thomas Bjorn and Nick Dougherty were level par after 11 holes while Colin Montgomerie was among the later starters.
