Dubai : After a blistering start to 2009, Paul Casey could only sit and watch as a rib injury robbed him of the chance to lift the inaugural Race to Dubai.
This week he is back in Dubai, fully fit, and aiming to recapture the 2009 form that saw him win the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, come second in the WGC World Match Play and score his maiden victory on the US PGA Tour at the Shell Houston Open. The PGA Championship at Wentworth followed to propel him to number three in the world until he was sidelined for most of the rest of the year.
"There's no reason why 2010 can't be a great year," Casey told XPRESS at Yas Links Golf Club in Abu Dhabi, where he had just conducted an entertaining private clinic for invited guests. "I had a great start to 2009, accumulated a lot of ranking points and got to number three in the world.
"It gave me a glimpse of what I can achieve. I don't want to stop at number three," said the Englishman who has since dropped to seventh. "I want to push for second, and then who knows," Casey added.
Casey returned to form on the Desert Swing with a solid nine-under finish in Abu Dhabi followed by a blistering third-round 66 in Doha, on a day where many struggled, which saw him lead going into the final round, though he eventually finished fifth. "I was disappointed with 74 on the final day. Though there are plenty of positives to take from Qatar. To finish fifth after missing the cut all three times I played there before proved to myself I can figure out a way of getting round there."
In Abu Dhabi, Casey said he could still not swing fully after the injury. But a fortnight later and all is well. "The rough was quite thick in Qatar. I didn't hold back and didn't feel any pain.
"It's more a confidence thing now - to convince myself to go through with the shot and not come out of it.
"It's like when a footballer comes back from injury. They're fit but not fully match fit. And you can't get that complete sharpness back and eliminate errors unless you are in competition. It doesn't matter how much practice you put in."
Casey said his time away has given him renewed hunger for the game. "Last year was very frustrating. I have great enthusiasm now for golf."
And his prospects in Dubai? "I always go into a tournament believing I can win. I'm never there just to make up the numbers.
"Though there are a couple of funny holes at the Majlis. I mean, how do you keep it on the fairway off the tee at 18?" he smiled. "I'm always in the rough one side or the other."
And he was looking forward, like all of us, to seeing Tom Watson at Emirates Golf Club this week. "Watch him if you get the chance. He's just a pure striker of the ball.
"I'd love to be in a three-ball with him on Thursday. He's not only a great player but the nicest guy and a gentleman on the course."
Casey notes
Age: 32
World ranking: 7th
Race to Dubai: 20th
Paul's FAVOURITES
Car: BMW M5
Music: Eclectic, Ian Brown (Stone Roses)
Movie: The Usual Suspects
Course: The Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland
Most memorable shot: Ryder Cup 2006, 14th hole, K Club, Ireland - hole in one to win the match
Sport to take part in: Mountain biking
Sport to watch: Motor racing/Formula 1
If not a golfer you would be: A graphic designer
