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.

Possibly Sr, but I'll be about as interested in golf in the Olympics as I am in dressage or synchronised swimming.

Rory playing for Ireland also certainly increases the chances of a British golfer winning Gold.

Gonzo slipping way too far behind at web.com Q-School, but Dornoch's Jimmy Gunn is inside the exempt cut - just halfway though.

kwinigolfer wrote:Anyway, good that the "second rate" Tour still beats the BIG/BEST Tour every two years, even if it is just a friendly.

There it is.

hmmm, somehow a Matchplay exhibition (albeit a highly competitive exhibition) among 12 players, (approximately 10% of the population) is vindication for the "Second Rate" Tour.

Particularly when that many of the players from the second rate tour only play 5-6 events that are NOT co-sanctioned with the "first rate" tour.

Which v2 posters does this remind you of??

http://www.golfdigest.com/story/this-guy-did-not-find-golf-prank-funny-which-makes-it-even-funnier?mbid=nl_121115_daily_hitlist&CNDID=25665405&spMailingID=8341144&spUserID=OTA2NDc1MDkyNzUS1&spJobID=821272285&spReportId=ODIxMjcyMjg1S0

Kwini

As a yoof I used to try a similar prank on blind shots at my home club. We would run out after a drive was hit and place the ball in a ridiculous lie. Like on top of a tinnie, on a porno, plugged on a bone dry fairway or just kick the ball miles into the rough from the middle of the fairway.

It seemed pretty funny when you were 14 and the crazy reactions were part of the hilarity.


As for who this reminds me off I would say the poor reaction has Davie written all over it.

I thought of you and super, Mac, you with the engineering nonsense.

But I later felt it was more apropos Davie and the moderators.

Pretty funny, and I know I'm capable of being the old fart who doesn't see the joke.

The old guy was probably p!ssed because he had a putt to break 100.

See! Even more like me . . . . . .

I wonder why he was so upset. Just replace the ball as per outside agency rules.

I do think his reaction is pretty funny though.

It may not last, but Lee Westwood currently sitting in 3rd place at the Thailand Open.
And that would facilitate a remarkable double:
Just enough owgr points to creep into the Top 50 in time for The Masters cut-off.
3rd place would also qualify him for the Open Championship.

But Clement Sordet is leading - who the hell is he? Never heard of him.

kwini

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/northern-ireland-open/clement-sordet-living-the-dream-after-northern-ireland-open-joy-31438817.html

Thanks Mac,
Looks like he has a pretty impressive CV. He'll be playing in the final group with Donaldson and Westwood, each of them with much to gain. Possibly a win for Donaldson, from Westwood would be ideal - a double double if you like.

kwinigolfer wrote:Which v2 posters does this remind you of??

http://www.golfdigest.com/story/this-guy-did-not-find-golf-prank-funny-which-makes-it-even-funnier?mbid=nl_121115_daily_hitlist&CNDID=25665405&spMailingID=8341144&spUserID=OTA2NDc1MDkyNzUS1&spJobID=821272285&spReportId=ODIxMjcyMjg1S0

Serves the stupid little pr!cks right. Pity the old guy didn't brain both of them.

kwinigolfer wrote:

But I later felt it was more apropos Davie and the moderators.

I couldn't run that fast

Interesting speculation on Golf Channel that the Tour "will explore all options the event's future", that event being the WGC:Cadillac Championship at Trump's Doral. But the 2016 event will still be held there.

"We continue to stand by our earlier statement, and the statement of other golf organizations, that Mr.Trump's comments are inconsistent with our strong commitment to an inclusive and welcoming environment in the game of golf."

Watch this space on that.

Time for the European Tour to make a stand regarding the 2017 Scottish Open, and for the R&A to make a statement about Turnberry's place on the Open rota.

I can't stop smiling since a majority of PGA Tour players and employees (and sponsors) would probably be Trump voters.

For the ET to "make a stand"... Well they should probably start in the Gulf States and China. Having state sponsored and run tournaments in places with serious human rights issues and lack of democracy is far worse than some clown making populistic comments. But of course it's more political correct and easy to score cheap points (and equally populistic) to go for Trump.

"Double double" indeed for Donaldson (1st) and Westwood (T2) and they're both qualified for the 2016 Open and should be, just, in the year-end owgr Top 50. By the skin of your teeth gentlemen.


pedro,
The denial of what most Westerners would consider basic human rights is also prevalent in many US States, but let's not dare go there . . . . . . . !

I wonder what the highest number of Englishmen ever in the Top 50 might be?
Looks like we'll go out of the year with Rose, Willett, Sullivan, Fitzpatrick, Wood and Westwood all in, plus Paul Casey.
Disappointing for Poulter (he's in The Masters already though) and Donald no doubt, but that's not bad.

Time to make those numbers count at the Majors Top Table.

The independent is reporting that the R&A will not be taking the open to Trumpton Turnberry as he is now "so toxic"

Thanks Mac,
Cue a reshuffle of Open venues, but it's interesting that the articles, and others, suggest Turnberry was destined for 2020, confirming earlier speculation that TOC would get a centenary visit in 2021. You'd think the R&A will have to respond to these reports now, wouldn't you?
A shame for Turnberry but not for Trump.

Very dangerous of the R&A to mix sports and politics. It will (should) put pressure on the ET to rethink its ever increasing FIFA'esque love affairs with dictators and despots around the world.

Would agree normally pedro, but there's no policy about Trump, just bombastic bigotry and bullying.

If no-one else can call him on it, it's good if golf organizations lead the way.

The politics of Q-School.

And it's good news for Dornoch's Jimmy Gunn (nothing here about what he shott) and not too bad for Gonzo who improved every day and has a good "number" in web.com conditional "status", as has Sebastian Cappelen (even better actually).

David Skinns got skinned, very low "reshuffle" position and presumably back to a mini-er Tour to ply his trade.

McLaren wrote:The independent is reporting that the R&A will not be taking the open to Trumpton Turnberry as he is now "so toxic"

I read this article.. this type of reporting gets on my nerves - they weasle about with "insiders are saying people are thinking this" and "the committee must be considering that" but not much substantiated facts, then end with "Turnberry may have to wait."

"May"??? How can you end with "may" when your headline was "Donald Trump's Turnberry golf club to no longer host The Open"

Which is it? Journalists!

#hereendiththerant

Silence from R&A on this this morning is deafening. Speaking volumes?

Speaking volumes about golfers' annual performance on the course trumps that.
As measured in owgr points, this is the Top Twelve - all earning more than 200 owgr points:

630: Spieth
452: Day
385: McIlroy
325: Fowler
325: Rose
312: Bubba
312: Stenson
285: Dustin
255: Top Five
237: Zach
228: Grace
221: Kisner

Tough to argue with that lot.

McDowell, Bradley, Horschel, Mahan, Donald and Simpson among those who failed to register at least 100 owgr points. Must do better.

Watched some of the PNC Father/Son Challenge on TV at the weekend, a tournament for Major Champions (incl perversely The Players) and their offspring. An annual reminder of what a great and enduring golfer Larry Nelson is.
Not a great deal unlike David Toms, except 20 years older.

Kinda surprising Toms wasn't there, and no Lawrie or Clarke.

Also watched as much of the Shark Shoot-Out as I could - Dufner & Snedeker won, and Dufner looked like the golfer of two or three years ago. Definitely one to watch on certain courses in 2016. Putting a lot better.

kwinigolfer wrote:.

McDowell, Bradley, Horschel, Mahan, Donald and Simpson among those who failed to register at least 100 owgr points. Must do better.

I'd put those into a couple of groups:

1. I could see perhaps Mahan and Horschel, but definitely Bradley slipping away in a Lucas Glover style (although to be fair, part of his slide was injury, but you know what I mean - never really hitting the heights after a short giddy period).

2. I think GMac and Simpson will come back and play at a high level again, if not as high as they did.

3. Donald, partly due to age, partly to length and partly to do with focus, I see fading and maybe even coming back more to the ET, but generally struggling on for a bit.

Yup, Bradley and Simpson suffering on the greens as they experiment without their anchor.

Lucas Glover among those playing much better recently!

I thought Bradley was going to be the new American number 1 after his early career success, and I would have still argued that up until early 2014.  Not sure what went wrong for him but has a player looked so uncomfortable over the ball since Sergio's crazy twitching period? Or putter issues as Kwini just mentioned.

kwinigolfer wrote:Yup, Bradley and Simpson suffering on the greens as they experiment without their anchor.

Lucas Glover among those playing much better recently!

Why are they practicing? Thought they just prayed for success?

super_realist wrote:

kwinigolfer wrote:Yup, Bradley and Simpson suffering on the greens as they experiment without their anchor.

Lucas Glover among those playing much better recently!

Why are they practicing? Thought they just prayed for success?

The other guys prayed harder, longer, louder. That's how it works - right?

kwinigolfer wrote:Would agree normally pedro, but there's no policy about Trump, just bombastic bigotry and bullying.

If no-one else can call him on it, it's good if golf organizations lead the way.

If bombastic bigotry is grounds for Disqualification of Open venue, how does Muirfield ever hold an Open Championship?

They discriminate against half of the Human Race!

It's a very good point actually GPB.

It's a bit too late for them to start thinking they are "Mac" isn't it?

Agreed GPB.
No problem here if the R&A similarly disqualifies Muirfield. Only difference is, Muirfield may not care, but Trump will certainly care if his properties have Major events taken away.

That's rationalization Kwini.

Muirfield's (alleged) apathy is not my point.

The hypocrisy of the R&A is the point if they take away Turnberry out of the rotation and yet Muirfield remains in the rota.

GPB wrote:That's rationalization Kwini.

Muirfield's (alleged) apathy is not my point.  

The hypocrisy of the R&A is the point if they take away Turnberry out of the rotation and yet Muirfield remains in the rota.

Was only a couple of years ago they should have cancelled The Open completely if they were being consistent by excluding themselves from running it.

A couple of true stories when Casey played the Scottish at Royal Aberdeen last summer. He was playing the morning pro-am rather than the afternoon shotgun pro-am which reflected his status only 18 months ago.

He was on the 13th tee. This was the 416yard or so par 4 that Rory drove the next day. Same wind helping in the pro-am. I'm the only one at the tee watching. I know the course pretty well. I could see the iron or driver play we both option as the last 10" yards is downhill. Casey's caddy said he fancied the driver. Casey tore stips off him. "I'm trying to get a par so I need to hit the green in two so I need to be on the fairway". This doesn't read too bad today but his attitude was very condescending.

I knew a caddy of one of the amateurs. Apparently Casey said nothing to any of them all the way round. At the meal afterwards one of the amateurs was really fed up and said nicely to Casey that they did not mind if he had to be somewhere else. He relied "I have to eat with you guys or I get fined". Apparently this was "The most he said all day".

No doubt he is a good golfer but he comes across as an arrogant sh#t. He probably likes the US as they can't see through his bullsh#t. He loves himself too much.

Exactly super. It just outlines that some people are afraid of their own kind.

Wonder why they put the RC in a neo-fascist place like Italy - and why they haven't taken it away from an equally (and ever increasing) neo-fascist place like France?

R&A allegedly saying that Turnberry was "never under consideration for the next few years" for an Open Championship, according to the Golf Channel. Can't honestly believe that, where else are they going to go for 2020? Lytham?? RSG???

And they quote a report in the Telegraph that the European Tour's plans for holding the Scottish Open in 2017 at Trump's place "have been ripped up".

Latest from Trump apparently, "Guess I'll go eat worms".

kwinigolfer wrote:R&A allegedly saying that Turnberry was "never under consideration for the next few years" for an Open Championship, according to the Golf Channel. Can't honestly believe that, where else are they going to go fdor 2020? Lytham?? RSG???

And they quote a report in the Telegraph that the European Tour's plans for holding the Scottish Open in 2017 at Trump's place "have been ripped up".

Latest from Trump apparently, "Guess I'll go eat worms".

It's all very well the R&A saying that Turnberry was never under consideration for a 2020 Open, but where will they go?

2016: Troon
2017: Birkdale
2018: Carnoustie
2019: Portrush
2020: ?
2021: presumably St.Andrews

Assume the choices are between RSG (last held there in 2011) and Lytham (2012) or back to St.Andrews. Haven't heard any chatter about an addition to the rota, and "England" is due.

Anyone heard any hints as to where they might go?

Hoylake? What's the infrastructure like round there?

Hoylake held the Open for the first time in almost 40 years back in 2006. It got it again last year so it must be reasonably well equipped to have them return relatively quickly.

Maybe they'll add a course in England to the rota. Plenty options.

Plenty of options indeed - wouldn't bother me if the tried Princes and used RSG for practice range, corporate tents etc . . . . . . !

But they can't use Muirfield Village because that's in Ohio, but the Tour just announced a 40% increase in the "Memorial" purse to $1.6M for the winner, and five year extension of Nationwide Insurance's sponsorship. That'll get Justin Rose's attention given his superb record there.

kwinigolfer wrote:Plenty of options indeed - wouldn't bother me if the tried Princes and used RSG for practice range, corporate tents etc . . . . . . !

But they can't use Muirfield Village because that's in Ohio, but the Tour just announced a 40% increase in the "Memorial" purse to $1.6M for the winner, and five year extension of Nationwide Insurance's sponsorship. That'll get Justin Rose's attention given his superb record there.

Don't think Ohio is excluded. It is The Open after all, not the British Open.

I found Prince's far more enjoyable than Hoylake, but marginally less so than Birkdale. 27 holes as well so plenty of space for practice range, media village etc. RSG is usually the best attended Open because it is in the south east, although Prince's would suffer from the same horrendous logistical issues. Prince's might be a bit tight in places for large crowds - some of the tees are very close to the greens... but I guess TOC manages.

Ohio isn't in the R&A's jurisdiction so it couldn't be there. Anywhere but US & Mexico.

I'd like to see "The Open" go other places like American Football Teams have been doing.

If it absolutely has to be links (not sure why that seems set in stone), then take it to the Republic of Oirland, Netherlands, Sweden etc.

Seeing as they are so keen to make a point it isn't the "British" Open, and they are always bamming off about "growing the game" they don't really have an excuse do they?

Super

It is going to NI, which isn't British,

McLaren wrote:Super

It is going to NI, which isn't British,

I realise you are being your usual contrary and provocative self Mac, but NI very much is part of Britain geographically and politically.
It's not part of the UK, but it is part of Britain.