By John Tully-Jackson
Paul Casey’s return to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship was sparked by a spell on the sofa watching Europe’s Ryder Cup defeat at Hazeltine. He could no longer be an idle bystander.

The two-time Falcon Trophy winner will tee up at The National for the first time since 2014 as he begins his bid to be included in captain Thomas Bjorn’s European lineup for Paris this September.

“The only feeling I felt when watching The Ryder Cup at Hazeltine was frustration that I couldn’t contribute to that,” said the 40-year-old. “That was hard, to see the brilliant play from the U.S., the result was a hard one to watch knowing that you’ve got no impact whatsoever.”

A little love from the galleries during last year’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale certainly made the decision to return to the European Tour easier for PGA Tour-domiciled Casey. A repeat of his victories around The National in 2007 and 2009 would be an ideal start to the Englishman’s Ryder Cup bid.

“I think one of the keys when I was back at The Open Championship and playing at Birkdale, just the reception there, playing in front of a home crowd, it was kind of the final sort of, you know, this is something I just — I miss this.

“You know, the opportunity to play for Europe is now on the table at a Ryder Cup and just something I just wanted to do, knowing that the clock is ticking, age 40, I don’t have that many opportunities. I was fully bought in at that stage after The Open Championship.”

The 13-time European Tour winner headed straight to a meeting with European Tour boss Kieth Pelley after his press conference on the eve of the HSBC to figure out the best way to re-enter the European Tour fold.

“Of all the golf I’ve played and victories I’ve had, it’s amazing how the three Ryder Cups, sort of nine days of golf that I’ve been part of, feature so heavily in the amazing memories that I’ve had, great memories that I’ve had in my golfing career. There’s nothing quite like that.

“Yeah, it’s a big part of this decision, a major part of this decision.”