Tue, Sep 19, 2006 page20

• Paul Casey clinches ?1m World Match Play Champs

  • AP
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  Paul Casey was close to being a benchwarmer in his Ryder Cup debut two years ago, playing only one team match before getting trounced by Tiger Woods in singles.

  The Englishman will bring stronger credentials to the Ryder Cup on Friday after the week he had in the World Match Play Championship at Wentworth.

  Casey steamrolled through two major champions, Retief Goosen and Mike Weir, then showed no mercy to Ryder Cup teammate Colin Montgomerie, an eight-time winner of Europe's Order of Merit.

  The final match on Sunday against former US PGA champion Shaun Micheel turned out to be the easiest of all.

  Casey won nine of the last 13 holes to turn a tight match into the biggest rout ever in the final, a 10-and-8 victory that came with a bundle of bonuses.

  He won the richest prize in golf at ?1 million (US$1.88 million), which put him atop the Order of Merit on the European Tour. It was his third victory of the European Tour season, and by far the biggest win of his career.

  And it sure put Casey in good spirits heading over to Ireland for the Ryder Cup.

  "I'm just excited to go into next week," Casey said. "I'm ready to play in as many matches as [captain Ian Woosnam] wants me to play in. I'm happy to play in all five if that's what he asks of me."

  Whether that translates into points for Europe at The K Club remains to be seen.

  All that mattered to Casey on Sunday was putting his name on a trophy alongside some of the biggest stars in golf, from Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, to Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros. He became only the fifth player without a major to win in the 43-year history of the World Match Play Championship.

  "It's just wonderful to put my name down in history, put my name on the roll of honor," Casey said.

  His choice of apparel was a coincidence, although it did not go unnoticed. After all, everyone expected a guy in a red shirt and a swoosh to rule this tournament, and that's exactly what happened.

  Woods, however, was 30 minutes away from Wentworth watching Chelsea beat Liverpool in an English Premier League soccer game.

  Casey delivered a performance every bit as dominant.

  Along with setting a record for largest margin of victory -- Nick Faldo beat Jeff Sluman 8 and 7 in 1992 -- Casey played only 126 holes during his marathon week, the fewest of any player over four 36-hole matches.

  Ian Woosnam and Padraig Harrington each played 128 holes in 2001.

  Micheel began his week by knocking out Woods in the first round, ending his five-tournament winning streak. But Micheel ran out of steam, especially after a critical mistake in the morning round.

  "It's always hard when you've made it this far and don't play well," the American said.

  The match was still close until a blunder that caused Micheel to curse his caddie on the 16th hole for bad yardage, sending him to a double bogey. From there, Casey hit the ball too well off the tee and too close to the flag for Micheel to make up any ground.

  "Better to be beaten by someone who has played so well," he said.

  Micheel had his own wardrobe issues.

  Whether it was a premonition or an oversight, he didn't pack enough shirts to last all week at Wentworth. But then he disposed of Woods in the first round, then beat Ryder Cup players Luke Donald and Robert Karlsson to reach the final match.

  Micheel had to send out his laundry on Saturday night and wound up wearing the same shirt he had on in the semi-finals.

  It didn't bring him much luck, although he was very much in the match through the first 15 holes of the morning round.
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