Casey returns to European tour with Ryder Cup in sights

Paul Casey has finally ended the long wait for Europe and Thomas Bjorn by revealing he will make himself eligible for next year’s Ryder Cup.

If the Englishman makes the cut for the match near 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 No15 in his ranks as he tries to win back the Cup from the United States.

But Europe’s rules dictate that only players who are members of the European Tour can qualify or be picked for wild cards and, since relinquishing his card in 2015, Casey has declined to rejoin.

The former World Match Play champion – who has been on the winning team in two of this three Ryder Cups – has re-established himself as one of the game’s most consistent performers, and Bjorn was privately confident Casey would make himself available after membership requirements were reduced to four events for next season from five.

“I’m excited to say this – for next year I am going to rejoin the European Tour,” Casey said. “The reasons why I didn’t renew my membership originally was because of commitments to my family and, if anything, that’s now doubly difficult because I’ve got a seven-weekold little girl [Astaria]. As hard as it was trying to make it work three years ago, struggling with my game and dropping out of the world’s top 50, I have missed it too much.

“Thomas has been a massive support and has certainly assisted in me making the decision with his confidence in me. I feel like obviously the golf I’ve played the last few years, I can make a massive contribution on the course.”