Casey boosts bid for Ryder Cup inclusion
PADRAIG Harrington doesn’t hang around the back of the 18th much on Sundays waiting to acknowledge the winner, unless it’s someone about to do something special like Shane Lowry in The Open at Royal Portrush 18 months ago.
But as Europe’s Ryder Cup captain, Harrington made a point of congratulating Paul Casey on the final green yesterday after the 43-year-old Englishman coasted to a four-stroke success in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
With masks in place, the elbowto-elbow recognition from one Tour veteran to another indicated that Harrington was as pleased for himself in a Ryder Cup capacity, just as Casey was for clocking up his 15th European Tour win, the same as Harrington, incidentally.
Casey is now projected to move into the top 15 of the world rankings but the bundle of Ryder Cup points was just as valid, certainly from Harrington’s perspective, as it lifted Casey from 51st to 14th in the European Points table. A fifth
Ryder Cup cap is a prime Casey target this year, and Harrington made it clear over the weekend, he is one of the experienced players whom he expects to lean on in Whistling Straits in September.
‘There’s a long way to go. I’d love to be part of this team, in any capacity,’ said Casey.
‘I’m a long way back in points – my world ranking points in California last week don’t count – which means I’m a bit behind so this is a big boost.
‘I want to make the team, I don’t like being a pick if I can help it. I’ll accept it but I don’t really want to if I can.’
Casey had too much craft for Robert MacIntyre, the lefthanded Scot of whom much is expected but who blew his chances with fourth successive bogeys from the seventh, and finished five shots back as South Africa’s Brandon Stone nipped in for second.
Even so, Casey was impressed with MacIntyre’s play and said he’d be a worthy addition to the Ryder Cup team, whether he qualifies directly or is close enough in the final standings to convince Harrington of his wild card worth.
‘He’s got a very strong possibility of being in Paddy’s Ryder Cup team,’ said Casey. ‘He was brilliant. He was great to play with, if anything he helped me.
‘I’d feel very comfortable standing next to him on the first tee at Whistling Straits. And he’s only going to get better and better.’
On unusually crusty greens, Casey kept his nerve down the stretch to close the door on Stone and MacIntyre. A 10-footer for bogey on the short 15th was crucial, as was an up and down from off the green at the next for par. After looking at the leaderboard for the first time on the 18th, Casey’s monster drive and towering approach set up a twoputt birdie for a round of 70 and a 17-under tally which was worth €435,489 and half the same again in Ryder Cup points.
Stone (72) was on 13 under par with MacIntyre (74) on 12 under.
Harrington had a fine tournament, as he tied sixth with Sergio Garcia and Bernd Wiesberger, two other Ryder Cup contenders, after a 70 left him on nine under.
Three birdies on the back nine, at the 10th, 14th and 17th, saw
Harrington secure his highest finish on Tour since a fifth place in the KLM Open in 2018. At 49, he’s clearly no back number.
While Harrington was pleased to see Casey follow up Tyrell’s Hatton triumph in Abu Dhabi, he would have been disappointed for Shane Lowry who began the day alongside Harrington on seven under.
In breezy conditions which should have suited, he didn’t take flight, dropping 17 places to 27th after a humdrum 75 left him on four under par.
Lowry played the approach of the day to ten feet at the 18th but was unable to convert the eagle putt.
Like Graeme McDowell, who missed the cut in Dubai, Lowry will look to kickstart his season in this week’s Saudi International, where no expense has been spared, judging by the quality of the field.
Dustin Johnson, the world No 1, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, Phil Mickelson, along with Norway’s Viktor Hovland, are all teeing up at Royal Greens where McDowell defends his crown.
Casey, meanwhile, says he is enjoying the game once more and is delighted to be back playing in front of fans, even if they are
“I’d love to be
in this team, in any capacity”
“We had some
fans and they were amazing”
socially-distanced, after experiencing a low point during the coronavirus pandemic.
‘I’ve not enjoyed a minute of it,’ he said. ‘It’s been totally soul-less, with no emotion. It’s just not been a fun time.
‘We had some fans this week. They were amazing.
‘I’ve realised how much I love doing what I do but in an environment with people watching. It could be heckling or cheering, that’s part of what we do.
‘Last year was rubbish but I’m now enjoying my golf, I feel fine with where I’m at.
‘I’ve worked incredibly hard. Here I am rejuvenated, sponsors, new equipment and a couple of people standing around a golf course. I feel totally different.
‘It was the trickiest conditions all week. I didn’t look at the leaderboard until I came down the 18th so didn’t know what was going on.
‘I was just trying to keep my nose clean. I did what I needed to do.’