Casey sets short-term targets

Dubai: English golfer Paul Casey is on the hunt for vital world ranking points in Dubai this week.

Casey is in town for his second Desert Classic showing after finishing inside the top 20 in 2004. He is hoping that setting short-term goals will see him fight back into the world's top 50 and collect points for the Ryder Cup in September.

The 28-year-old, who will be teeing off with fellow English players David Howell and Kenneth Ferrie, was boosted from No 61 to 49 following a win at the China Open in November.

Casey has since slipped to No 53, but is confident that a new approach this year will see him back inside the top 50.

"I have set my goals slightly differently. I made more short term goals this year," he said. "I still have the long term goals but now I have short term goals too. I need to get back in the top 50 to get into events like the Players' Championships and the Masters.

"Before I had goals like making the Ryder Cup team and I still have that as a target this year, but I have sub goals and if I achieve them I will get back inside the top 50."

For Casey the Desert Classic carries the added carrot of having attracted world number one Tiger Woods.

"It's a big deal, especially when you have someone like Tiger Woods playing. He carries a certain amount of points with him and when he plays it means there are more world ranking points available. So because he's here this week it's a big deal for me."

Casey is one of a number of talented British golfers including David Howell, Justin Rose, Luke Donald and Nick Dougherty vying a place of the Ryder Cup team. But he insists the competition is always friendly.

"I'm very good friends with David Howell and with Luke Donald," he said. "I have known Luke since I was 13 or 14. We are very good friends and it spurs you on. If one of us wins the others sends a text message. There is ribbing going on, but its all good natured stuff.

"In golf we are lucky that there is a new event every week, so you just move on and you don't dwell on it."