PGA Tour: The Two Faces of Paul Casey: Notes from the Ballwasher

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1).Paul Casey is a one-man charm offensive when it comes to dealing with the US Media - always good for an articulate, well-spoken interview, and often with at least a smidgeon of an edge to what he has to say. "Cocky and abrasive" were two of the least unflattering descriptions of him in a Telegraph article a few years ago.
In turn, the Press hacks here have seemingly forgiven him the "I properly hate the Americans" nonsense he came up with ten years ago.

2).Now it's almost as if he "properly hates" the European Tour, their rules and Ryder Cup eligibility requirements.
He's engaged in a war of words with Keith Pelley who, by most accounts, has bent over backwards in an effort to accommodate Paul - he's determined to play the Bridgestone, for instance, rather than accept the French Open olive branch, so "That number hasn't changed. It's still five (regular European Tour events mandated). The number is still the same, Keith Pelley. The number is still five."

3).As Geoff Shackleford writes, " . . . . some speculated that Casey was exacting revenge for being snubbed by Colin Montgomerie as a Captain's pick for the 2010 matches" when he was still in the owgr's Top Ten. An out of form Harrington was chosen in front of Casey and that Monty decision reportedly left Casey in tears.
But: "No, that never even crossed my mind," said St.Paul, who could have added "'course it didn't", but did say, "The Ryder Cup was never even discussed."

4).Justin Rose tried to rationalise it this way, and this from a man who was similarly "snubbed" by Montgomerie: "When you put so much into the Ryder Cup and feel like you should be on the Team and you get let down like that, maybe that's harbouring some of his decision-making to this day."

5).In lieu of the Ryder Cup, Casey's national ambition this year is to earn a spot on the British Olympic Team. He still has a lot of work to do, but this is a realistic goal.

6).But it's also quite likely that, apart from his understandable family objectives, he's also looking to cement his "status" on the PGA Tour, which is currently year-to-year. Whether due to injury, divorce, disaffection or bad form, he's missed out on some high-earning years. He's only 102nd in career earnings, at least $6M adrift of #50, and still only has one win. He HAS done well in FedEx bonuses and, unless his form disappears again, he's a racing cert for a free ride to the Champions Tour. (Don't suppose he's thinking of that, but it's a nice annuity, even when you're a millionaire several times over.)

7).His Ryder Cup record is excellent and he even gutted out what could have been a vital Ryder Cup half for Faldo in a singles match with Mahan when Hunner was holing everything in sight. As he says, "Some of my best moments, experiences, were on the European Tour and the Ryder Cup."

8).Anyone care what I think? I think Casey is as talented as any British golfer of his generation and six years ago was more likely to win a Major than McDowell or Rose.
For a variety of reasons he lost his way, but part of his getting back on course was due to his richly earned European exemptions and subsequent wins in Ireland and Holland (neither of which titles he bothered to defend).
When he was thus rehabilitating himself in "Europe", he had lost "status" on the PGA Tour, getting into very few events via invitations or "past Champion" status, just 16 in 2012/2013 combined, another 16 in 2014.
It's disingenuous of him not to admit that he was 169th in the world before he won in Ireland in 2013, which leveraged him in to Majors and WGC's and caused his US profile to resurface. Then his Dutch Open win lifted him up another 22 spots, to 62nd.
Europe was good enough for him then and it's a shame he's not coming to any accommodation with the E.T. now. Casey could well be the ultimate loser in all this, and that would do no justice at all to what has already been a very fine career.

9).It was interesting to see John McClaren, recently split from Luke Donald, auditioning on Casey's bag in the Bahamas. Seems only a few years ago that Christian Donald went the same route. For some reason Casey runs through caddies at a rapid rate - perhaps he's "cocky and abrasive" with them too?

10).Many will say rightly say that golfers are independent contractors and who wouldn't take the biggest money-earning opportunities they can find? Personally, I think there's more to life, and certainly sport, than that; how else could I justify being a Pompey supporter?
It would be good to think that Paul Casey might remember that before his career is done, that there's more to one's legacy than dollars in the bank. As it is, for this family-first Arizona homebody, his last four tournaments have all been outside the USA, chasing guaranteed money and appearance fees no doubt.
Regardless, good luck to him; just hold your nose next time you hear Paul Casey interviewed.

kwini the STP mentioned that those players were likely to sign up to PXG a month or so back. I still maintain it is a weird one for ZJ to change clubs after a major winning season, just ask Rory.

Have three players died?

super_realist wrote:Have three players died?

What?

Mac you plank, I was questioning how 9C moved up three places in the rankings.

Just shows the reps are working soops. Could be in the top 400 in a couple of months.