Casey shifts power balance
JUSTIN ROSE believes Paul Casey’s decision to make himself available for next year’s Ryder Cup can tip the balance in Europe’s favour.
The World No 6 had been hoping his fellow Englishman would end his exile after seeing his performances on the American circuit this season, and feels his decision this week will pay rich dividends.
“It is brilliant Paul has rejoined the European Tour, given the way he has played this past PGA Tour season,” said Rose.
“His consistency is good and just the way he plays golf is good. He is a power player and would be such a massive addition to the team as he can play any format.
“He is experienced and Paul is the kind of player we need to really strengthen the team.
“I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but if you add in [Spaniard] Jon Rahm as well, they would be two massive additions to our team that maybe we didn’t have at Hazeltine. They are two guys who would be very comfortable playing against the Americans.”
While Casey, below, will make his return to the European Tour in January, Rose has set his own immediate sights on pulling off a smash-and-grab triumph in the Race To Dubai a decade after first being crowned Europe’s No 1. Rose heads into today’s Turkish Airlines Open feeling the force is with him after victory at the HSBC Champions event in China last week as he attempts to close the gap on longtime leader Tommy Fleetwood on the final straight. “I was very aware that I needed to play some special golf in my last three events to catch Tommy,” said Rose.
“For me it was always going to be China, then here in Turkey and then Dubai and the simple maths was I had to win at least two of them.
“So part one is done – it’s now about focusing on the next two events starting this week.” JOHN HIGGINS hopes to avoid the same humiliation as Ronnie O’Sullivan against teenager Yan Bingtao today. Four-time world champion Higgins set up an International Championship quarter-final in Daqing, China, against the 17-year-old sensation with a 6-1 win over Mark Joyce. World No 53 Yan thrashed five-time world champion O’Sullivan 6-1 earlier this week, leaving the Rocket admitting he had been outplayed, and then reached the last eight by beating Jack Lisowski 6-4 yesterday. Higgins, 42, said: “Yan is a special player. He will be trying to get to the semi-final or even win the tournament now.”