Sports Then and Now

Paul Casey will look to build on recent success during the upcoming Masters.

Paul Casey has struggled during the past couple of years to produce some of his best form, but will be hoping his recent success at the Volvo Golf Championship in Bahrain is a sign of a brighter future. The tournament win in the Middle East was his first in 20 months and this year already looks to be progressing better than last season.

Casey will line-up at the US Masters next month with a strong record at Augusta which includes four top-20 finishes, the highlight being in 2004 when the 33-year old tied for sixth. There have been disappointments for Casey at the Masters though with missed cuts in 2005 and again last year, but if the Englishman’s game is as tight as it can be then he’ll definitely be one of those in the chase to be awarded the famous green jacket, even if the Masters Golf betting odds suggest he isn’t among the favorites.

Casey’s game is ideally suited to ruthless Augusta greens and last year saw the Englishman putting as good as anyone on the tour and that will be essential if he is to have a chance in next month’s Masters. His 12 Tour wins show Casey has the mental strength to win tournaments and this year will all be about finding the consistency needed to cement himself among the world’s best.

The 2006 European Player of the Year will go into the Masters as number seven in the world, but many will feel he has a better chance than a number of higher ranked players.