Casey claims HSBC World Match Play glory

BY iseekgolf.com | European PGA Tour | 2006 HSBC World Match Play Championship | Wrap | 18 Sep 2006

England’s Paul Casey stormed to the 2006 HSBC World Match Play Championhip title with an emphatic 10&8 victory over Shaun Micheel of the United States at a sun-baked Wentworth today.

The 29-year-old capped a remarkable debut in the event by out-classing his opponent to secure the prestigious title and claim the £1m first prize.

An excellent week’s work for the 12th seed, that included victories over Retief Goosen, Mike Weir and Colin Montgomerie, ended with the Ryder Cup-bound star notching a new records for the biggest ever winning margin and least number of holes played by the winner as well as becoming the first debutant to win since South Africa’s Ernie Els in 1994.

It is also his third European Tour title of the year, following success at the Volvo China Open and the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, and it carries him to the top of this year’s European Tour Order of Merit.

The victory, the third by an Englishman in the event after Nick Faldo (1989, 1992) and Lee Westwood (2000), will also ensure Casey moves him back into the world’s top 20.

“It’s probably the biggest win of my career so far, financially and in terms of the roll of honour and the significance,” admitted a delighted Casey.

“It was very exciting just to be in the event,” he added, “Then, as the week went on I was just trying to play, be cool and relaxed and happy with every win I had. None of the matches were easy, even though the scores may not have reflected that, and even going into today I was just happy to be in the final. If I won, it’s purely a bonus.”

Micheel, who can look back on memorable victories this week over World No.1 Tiger Woods, Luke Donald and Robert Karlsson, was generous with his praise in defeat commenting, "He played great. It’s not great to be beaten but better to be beaten by someone who has played well.

“I felt it was a good week for me all-round. I enjoyed coming here and playing in the HSBC World Match Play. It was kind of frustrating but he played some great iron shots at the end and my hat comes off to him. He played some great golf.”

Casey took control in the morning firing four birdies on his way to an outward 31 but Micheel would have considered himself unlucky to have garnered no reward for his two birdies.

The duo halved the opening three holes in par before Casey broke the deadlock at the long 4th where a superb 300 yards drive laid the foundation for a birdies.

A five iron took him to the heart of the green where he could afford to two-putt for a four while Micheel stumbled his way to a par.

Micheel missed the green at the next but rescued the situation by chipping to within inches to save par and halve the hole.

The American cranked up the pressure at the next as he holed from 20ft for his first birdie of the day but Casey held his nerve to snatch a half with an equally impressive putt.

Casey golden touch with the putter was again evident at the 7th where he drained a 27ft putt after again making the opportunity with a excellent approach. Micheel could not do better than par and now found himself two down.

Micheel failed to make an inroads into the deficit over the next two holes but the door was opened by Casey at the 11th where he found a fairway bunker with his tee shot.

The American hammered home his advantage by nailing a 9 iron to within 12ft and claiming a birdie and the hole.

But his hard work was wasted at the next hole where he found the trees and then the water allowing Casey to restore his two hole advantage with par golf.

That’s the way it stayed until the short 14th where Casey was off-target for once and Micheel benefited from his par to close to within one hole again.

Both players made a mess of the 16th and when Micheel two-putted from just 5ft for double-bogey Casey was back to 2up. And Micheel’s caddy bore the brunt of the flack as the normally mild-mannered American turned the air blue.

Two became three at the next when Casey’s iron play brought reward once more.

His three wood second from the fairway carried him to the green where he got down in two for a birdie and a further hole cushion.

The last hole before the break was halved in birdie four to see the Englishman go to lunch 3up and within site of a memorable triumph.

Micheel’s hopes of a recovery were soon dealt a further blow when Casey sunk a 15ft birdie on the 2nd to stretch his lead to four holes. And four became five at the 4th when another glorious putt, this time from 12ft, put a further nail in Micheel’s coffin.

The day got worse for the American at the 6thwhere he found the sand and enabled Casey to move to 6up with par golf.

Casey then closed in on victory with three sensational iron shots at the 7th, 8th and 9th.

An 8 iron to 4ft on the 7th brought another birdie, the same club fired the ball to 5ft on the 8th then Casey took a 9 iron at the 9th to once again trouble the flag and cap another sparkling 31 on the outward nine.

Micheel could not do better than par on those holes and the end result was a massive nine hole deficit as they turned for home.

And the contest was over on the 10th when Micheel, with Casey within birdie range again, failed to extend the match and turned to offer his hand to his opponent.

Casey sparkled on his way to a total of 11 birdies while Micheel’s four told the story of the one-sided contest.

“The goal was to come out and make as many birdies as I could,” added Casey, “and at least give myself chances and it’s nice that it turned out that way.”

The 16th in the morning round was the key according to Casey, who was able to profit from a bogey due to a rare mistake from Micheel that saw him fly the green.

“It would have been easy to go into lunch less than 3up,” he added. “I certainly got away with one there. I did not expect him to put it over the green.”

Micheel was left to rue what might have been, concluding, “It’s been a great week. It’s disheartening when you make it this far and don’t win. Maybe it’s fatigue. I don’t know, but anytime I made a few putts he made them on top of me. But I’ve had a nice week here.”

Now on top of the European Tour Order of Merit, Casey is keen to remain in pole position.

“It’s certainly an attainable goal now and one that’s really in sight,” he hinted before adding, "I think it’s like looking at the trophy there standing on the 10th green, at the names who have won this match play title. It’s the same with the Order of Merit. It’s the ’who’s who’, I would just dearly love to add my name to the list.

“I think it’s about putting your name down in history, rather than the Euros or the pounds or whatever, It’s about knowing that my name will be there for ever.”

Casey also made a special mention to the European Tour’s team of physios who got him through the week.

“I have to thank them. After every match I’ve been in there this week and had treatment on my legs, back and shoulders to stay fresh.”

And European Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam will be hoping the Englishman stays fresh for next week’s battle.

“There’s a lot of pressure next week,” admitted the latest Wentworth victor who made his Ryder Cup debut in 2004, “This has given me a lot of practice but I don’t know if this win today means that I’m any better at match play than I was before this event started. It’s just what happens next week, happens.”

Source – HSBC
Photo – Anthony Powter