Ryder pick on case by Casey basis for Bjorn
Ethe cut for next year’s match in Paris, it will be his first appearance in the blue and gold for a decade. Since securing the captaincy at the start of the year, Bjorn has made no secret of his desire to have the world No.15 is his ranks as he tries to win back the Cup from the United States.
But the Dane declared that Casey will not be getting any preferential treatment as the battle to make the team intensifies.
Bjorn, speaking at the Turkish Airlines Open where Nicolas Colsaerts, Joost Luiten and Haydn Porteous lead with seven-under 64s, said: “No, I will not feel obliged [to pick Casey] as I have to take my 12 best players to France.
“If Paul is among the 12, he’ll be there. If I don’t see him being among the 12, he won’t and Paul knows that.
“This was about making him eligible from a position of being where he is in the world rankings and the way he’s played the last couple of years. It would be crazy to have a situation where he wasn’t eligible to play.
“I had to have that conversation with him and he’s seen that it suits him in his life.
“So, I don’t feel under any pressure to pick anyone because I’ve made no promises. That’s how the Ryder Cup team works.”
With Colsaerts, Luiten and Porteous leading the field in Antalya, David Drysdale was the best of the Scots in a share of 14th after day one. The Borderer posted a spirited three-under 68 and then set his sights on qualifying for next year’s Open at Carnoustie with a strong finish to the current season.
He said: “I can do that by finishing in the top 30. I’ve never been near the top 30. The highest I finished was 48th. So I need some big weeks if I want to do that.”
Glasgow duo Marc Warren and Scott Jamieson had a 72 and a 73 respectively.