Casey looks for icing on his cake
BIRTHDAY: Paul Casey PAUL CASEY celebrated his 40th birthday on Friday with cake and a few beers in his rented mansion.
And then he served up another treat at Royal Birkdale yesterday by coming home with a 67 which included four birdies playing alongside World No.1 Dustin Johnson.
Casey goes into the final round level for the tournament and is hoping to raise a glass to another sparkling 18 holes today.
He said: “It was quiet in the house. Quite a lot of cake. Couple of beers but nothing wild. I’m saving the party for next week.”
Casey was left frustrated with a 77 sandwiched in between an opening 66 and yesterday’s 67 and feels he should have carded a better score on his third day on the famous links.
He added: “I felt like I should have got more out of it. They were perfect conditions. The course is now soft from the rain.
“But I’m happy with the way I played. You can see what was happening out there with Branden Grace and Dustin Johnson.
“There were a lot of opportunities. It was a scorer’s paradise.
“I knew I had to do something. It would have been nice to get into the red but at least I moved up the leaderboard.
“It’s such a well-stacked leaderboard and it feels like I’m too far back.
“You know how good Jordan Spieth and these guys are.
“Dustin and I played really well. He’s got so much firepower and doesn’t get enough credit for his short game.
“His attitude on the golf course is really cool. Flawless.
“He just kind of wanders around and looks very casual but he’s a smart golfer.
“I enjoy playing with him. He’s clearly, I think, the world’s best player.
“I know when Rory McIlroy gets hot he’s amazing but right now Dustin is the best player in the world. Hands down.”
Sergio Garcia finished with a 68 following 69 the previous day but is still feeling his injured shoulder going into the final day of a tournament he has never won.
The Spaniard said: “It was a bit sore practising warming up more than anything on the finish.
“I wasn’t able to do what I wanted to do.”