The Scotsman

Casey: I’d feel very comfortabl­e alongside Macintyre in Ryder Cup

- By MARTIN DEMPSTER

Paul Casey says he would feel “very comfortabl­e” standing alongside Bob Macintyre on the first tee at Whistling Straits in the 43rd Ryder Cup in September.

The Englishman, who has played on three winning teams in the biennial event, delivered his observatio­n after playing with Macintyre for the first time in the final round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Casey came out on top to land his 15th European Tour title, but the 43-year-old admitted he’d become the latest member of Macintyre’s growing fan club.

“Great player,” he said of the 24-year-old Scot. “He's got a very strong possibilit­y of being on Paddy's Ryder Cup team come later this year. He was brilliant.

“He's got a good demeanor, very good demeanor. Look, I couldn't really see a weakness there. Great attitude. He's a good ball-striker. A lot of good attributes, good player. He's got a good brain.”

European captain Padraig Harrington delivered a glowing assessment of Macintyre as Ryder Cup contender earlier in the week, though hinted that he probably needs to secure one of his nine automatic spots for the reschedule­d event. “You know, I'd feel very comfortabl­e standing next to him on a first tee at Whistling Straits,” added Casey, who was handed the job of partnering Tyrrell Hatton on his debut in France in 2018.

“He’s pretty fearless and, you know, he's only going to get better and better and better.

“He was great to play with, and you can't always say that about guys. Actually, if anything, he helped me. So thanks, Bob.”

 ??  ?? 0 Bob Macintyre: ‘Fearless’
0 Bob Macintyre: ‘Fearless’

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