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Photos: Getty Images
By Kent Gray
On the subject of book-ending his season with Dubai wins, Paul Casey was hedging his bets. On the future of the European Tour, even though it won’t be known as such, the Englishman was unequivocal.
The 44-year-old world No.26 enjoys star billing at the penultimate event of this challenging Race to Dubai season alongside Tommy Fleetwood, 600-man Stephen Gallacher and defending champion Antoine Rozner.
After three weeks off, Casey feels “refreshed” for the $1.5 million AVIV Championship and would love to add a 16th European Tour victory at Jumeirah Golf Estates to his15th at the Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club in January.
That said, as much as the Fire course has (finally) caught his eye in practice, Casey isn’t entirely sure it is a layout that suits his renowned ability to scrap when the going gets tough.
“I think if you look at stats I’m probably a guy who likes a seven, eight, nine under winning score, something that’s quite tough, where a really good round is something where you just break par. Those big, big birdie fests maybe not as much,” Casey said.
All of which is problematic when you consider Rozner won the inaugural Golf in Dubai Championship on Fire with a 25-under total last December. Still, Casey is hoping this week’s relatively unfamiliar surroundings will help spark a strong finish to 2021.
“I like the Fire Course. For all the years I’ve been here I’ve walked right next to it and never paid any attention – it’s a very good golf course. Visually for me it’s very appealing, I played it well today in the pro-am, I’m looking forward to getting stuck in,” said Casey who is off at 7.40am in the first round alongside Fleetwood and Aussie Min Woo Lee.
“…Any time I turn up I’m turning up to try and give it my best and try and win the tournament. I’ve had one victory in Dubai earlier this year and I’d love to add another one to that.”
Casey also added his voice to a chorus of approval after the European Tour announced Tuesday that it will be rebadged to the DP World Tour from 2022 with 47 events in 27 countries, all with minimum prize funds of $2 million.
“It is exciting stuff,” Casey said.
“I was disappointed it wasn’t called a world tour about 20 years ago. I always thought we should be the world tour, we play pretty much everywhere.
“It’s about time so I congratulate DP World and the European Tour on this announcement. It benefits the players but it benefits everybody that is out here on Tour. It’s not just the players making money that trickles down into caddies and support staff and media and everybody – the whole family benefits from this so fantastic news.
“This is massive and I think it shows the strength, considering that technically we’re still in a pandemic as well, that shows the strength of the Tour, the strength of golf globally.
“There’s a positive trajectory in the environment that we’re currently in. Imagine if travel becomes easier and sporting events without restrictions become the norm again, the trajectory could be even steeper than we’ve currently got.”
But that is for next year and beyond. Right now, the focus is on the final fortnight of a long year. After the AVIV Championship, there is the $9 million DP World Tour Championship on neighbouring Earth at JGE before then a much-needed break.
Casey admits “the form coming in is probably not great” for his return to Dubai.
“You’ve only got so much fuel in the tank and maybe it’s just been slowly leaking out. I’ve given it so much this year and there’s been some great moments but there are the big things that take the energy out – Ryder Cup, Olympics and things like that and all the majors.
“Sometimes you just need to sort of hit the reset button, I think the three weeks off puts me into a good position going into these last two. I feel energised, I feel ready to go. I’ve just had three weeks off and this will be my final two events of this season so I’m really excited.”
