This year i s as good a chance as i've ever had
Paul casey tells evin Priest why he feels ready for a second wind in his stellar career – starting with The Masters
inning the Masters does not stop with the Green Jacket presentation at Augusta National on Sunday. In fact, that’s when it really starts.
In the hours following a Masters victory, a champion takes part in winner’s commitments, a press conference, formal celebrations with the members and is then taken to his newly allocated locker in the coveted Champions Locker Room.
After that, a winner will go back to his rented house and have a few drinks with those close to him – wearing the Green Jacket, of course.
Many, but not all, then fly to New York for the media tour. Breakfast shows, radio shows and photo opportunities at the New York Stock Exchange, Empire State Building and Madison Square Garden. It all sounds exhausting, but it’s a parade Paul Casey feels he could easily endure.
“Everybody talks about, ‘Can you handle everything that goes with it?’ Ah, yes!,” Casey says laughing. “I think I can handle that.”
Of course, he has to actually win the Masters first. But, while sitting down with Golf Monthly recently, a rejuvenated Casey revealed why this year is perhaps his greatest chance.
Green Jacket dreams
Casey is certain about one thing: he has never arrived at The Masters with more confidence. His last competitive round at Augusta – a seven-under-par 65 on Sunday last year – was his lowest ever score at The Masters. He finished in a creditable tie for 15th place.
More importantly, Casey is coming off a resurgent 2018 during which he wound back the clock spectacularly. Casey defeated old rival Tiger Woods to win the Valspar Championship in Tampa, Florida. It was Casey’s first US PGA Tour title in nine years and first worldwide victory since 2014. He also ended a ten-year absence from Europe’s Ryder Cup team, who went on to crush the Americans in Paris.
While 41-year-old Casey has always played his cards close to his chest, he feels 2018 has given him the confidence to voice his ambitions for this year. “I have always had lofty goals; maybe they seem more attainable now,” Casey says.
“I have always been very guarded with what my goals are. But, flat out, The Masters has always been one of the very top priorities and I firmly believe I have as good an opportunity to win it this year as I ever have.”
But what makes him so resolute? “Well, I have a better understanding of how to work my way efficiently around a golf course,” says Casey, who will contest his 13th Masters this April.
“I know all the shots I have to hit at Augusta. I know I can hit them, because I’ve obviously had some great rounds at Augusta. Playing well there is a case of eliminating errors, and my ability to hit those shots has not diminished.”
Casey’s Masters record certainly supports his belief. In 12 previous starts, he has finished in the top 25 eight times. He has also posted an impressive six top-tens. “As long as I can stay injury free then, yes, I believe this year is as good a chance as I've ever had – if not the best.”
Happy hunting grounds
The Masters isn’t the only Major where Casey fancies his chances. He feels this year’s venues require a mix of brains and brawn that suits his game perfectly.
Not that he lacks length off the tee; Casey ranked 31st for driving distance on the PGA Tour last year with an average tee shot of 304.3 yards. But he knows he’ll have to come up with something different to compete with bombers like Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Rory Mcilroy at the Majors.
The USPGA Championship will be held at New York’s notoriously difficult Bethpage Black in its new May timeslot, while Pebble Beach will host the US Open before the Open Championship heads to Royal Portrush.
“There are always Major venues you think, ‘I can win that… but it is going to be hard.’ Then there are venues where you think, ‘I know I can win that.’ Augusta and Pebble fit into that category. I love Pebble; I was leading after the first round of the (2010) US Open that Graeme Mcdowell won.
“Bethpage, though, is just a beast. It is going to be tough, because I don’t have the best record around Bethpage. But I do play tough golf courses well.
“Then there’s The Open, which is totally an unknown, but I’m so pumped for it. I know it will be mega; the crowds will be off the charts. I really don’t know anything about Portrush because I have never played it. But I think a lot of players will be in that same boat.”
The fire still burns
As Casey talks, there is a visible calmness and confidence. Seemingly, he has reached a point in his life where he is incredibly proud of his achievements, but acutely aware how hard it is for golfers in their 40s to compete with the elite 20-somethings.
As a father of two, the Scottsdale, Arizona resident can’t practise as hard as he used to, yet he knows he can still compete at the highest level. The look suits him – but the serenity hasn’t come easy.
“I know all the shots I have to hit at Augusta. I’ve had some great rounds there”
“Age has never been a factor,” Casey explains. “But there have been moments where I lost confidence in my golf game, mainly due to injuries. You ask yourself, ‘Is this it? Am I going to get back to the level I am familiar with? Or am I going to have to succumb to this new level? A lower level.
“You don’t know, but I’ve always enjoyed the chase. Waking up in the morning and working hard. You have to love it if you’ve been doing it as long as I have.”
Those doubts were demolished, however, when Casey romped to an emphatic win at the Valspar Championship with Woods and Patrick Reed his nearest challengers. Woods had a raucous Tampa crowd pulling for him, but Casey triumphed with a stunning final-round 65.
“The only way it could have been scripted better was if I was in the final group and I holed an amazing putt to win, but I don’t care!” Casey says with an honest laugh.
“I’ll be 42 in July and there are very few guys playing at an elite level in their 40s. I’m really proud I’m playing great golf at this age. I don’t have the ball speed of some of these young guys and I can’t fly it 320. But I have a good repertoire of shots.
“I was knocking on the door of the world’s top ten last year, but my injuries had to be managed to be healthy for the Ryder Cup so my ranking dipped.”
Part rival, part fan
Casey was not joking last year when he said, in his winning press conference in Tampa, that had he not earned his second career PGA Tour victory he wanted Woods to hoist the trophy.
“It’s been a great year to see him come back; I’m a Tiger fan. He has done so much for our sport,” Casey says. It’s an admirable disposition given Casey was one of Woods’ victims during his golden era from the late 1990s to 2013.
“He kicked us all to pieces through the 2000s, didn’t he? Others more than me, to be honest. I mean you look at Phil (Mickelson), Ernie (Els), Retief (Goosen) and Sergio (Garcia); they’re elite players who would have won so many more Majors. It was such a thrill to play against Tiger through that era.”
Having split his time between the European and PGA Tours in that period, Casey’s American schedule only allowed for the biggest tournaments. “My PGA Tour schedule was always 15 events; four Majors, four WGCS and the Players Championship. There’s nine, plus you add Memorial and Bay Hill. Tiger always won those events!” Casey says, again breaking out in laughter.
“It felt like you had very little chances to win, but then Tiger’s form dipped for various reasons and I didn’t like to see him not play well. Now, he’s back in the mix and Tampa was an amazing week. The crowds were behind him. It was really cool to finally win when he was in the mix.”
But Casey brings himself back to earth. “I came out on top, but it was a very different scenario from Tiger, say, 15 or 20 years ago.”
The year ahead
Casey’s triumphant 2018 season – also highlighted by a 1.5-point contribution to Europe’s 17.5–10.5 Ryder Cup drubbing of team USA – did come with a cost. Casey was often injured and his ailments included a withdrawal from the Players Championship in May.
It’s why he took a long rest from competitive golf following the WGC-HSBC Champions in China in October. The move has already paid dividends in 2019, with a refreshed Casey finishing tied 16th at the 33-man Tournament of Champions in Hawaii in the first week of January. Although he missed the cut at the Sony Open the following week, Casey then tied second at the Singapore Open.
“I came into this year not very well prepared because I’ve got two kids now,” Casey says. “This is probably the least prepared I have ever been for a season, but I’m incredibly motivated.
“I’m as motivated as I have ever been to win another PGA Tour event. I’m playing in Europe, but I’m not going to be playing a lot. I want to make those events count and I really want to win another Wentworth.”
Ranked World No.23 at the time of writing, Casey hasn’t given up on at least one more healthy stint in the top ten. “I mean, how long have I got left?” Casey ponders.
“If I can string out five amazing years… I mean, let’s be realistic, that would be impressive. I want to be back in the top ten. If I’m a top-ten player in five years, that would be an amazing achievement in itself. Hopefully I can make it happen.”
MMackenzie: Yorkshireman Dr Alister Mackenzie designed the course, which opened for play in 1933. He died before the first Augusta National Invitation Tournament in 1934.
TThe Azalea: Named after the famous flowers that grow around the golf course, this is a popular cocktail at the tournament. It’s made from gin, pineapple juice, grenadine and lemon or lime.