Defending champion Casey plots his return on a winning note

Abu Dhabi: Two-time winner and defending champion Paul Casey is hoping to start his 2010 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship campaign at his favourite venue as he sets out to finish some unfinished business after a rib injury truncated what was shaping out to be a brilliant season last year.

After winning his second title here last year, Casey scored on the US PGA Tour winning the Shell Houston Open and then registered his career's biggest win at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club. That purple patch carried him to the world number three spot and made him a strong contender for the Race to Dubai before the rib injury sustained at The Open Championship in July sidelined him, cutting short his campaign.

Speaking to the media here before going out for the Pro-Am yesterday, Casey said, "Very happy to be back here. It's a place that I enjoy being at, a gold course I play well at, and ready to go."

Commenting on his physical condition, Casey said, "I think I am 95 per cent. There's no pain in the ribs where I tore the muscles last year. It's just rusty, simple as that."

Casey said his goal for this year was to stay healthy for 12 months and replicate the golf that he played last year when moving to number 3. "The golf last year was fantastic in the beginning. Maybe a little bit of unfinished business. I'd like to get out there and have a full season and see how it goes," he said adding that his focus would again be on giving equal importance to every event and not just focus on the Majors.

Casey, who proudly held the Falcon Trophy after a one stroke victory at Abu Dhabi Golf Club's National Course 12 months ago, his second after winning it in 2007, said he was pleased to be back here in Abu Dhabi. "To me it's always been a gold course that if you drive the ball very well you can take advantage. The fairways are tight, the rough is very thick and the length has always been an advantage," he said.

Casey felt good driving was the key to success here. "There is nothing really tricky about the gold course, so that's a huge advantage if you can get the ball a long way down the fairway consistently."

Advantage Mirza

Miki Mirza moved on top of the Emirates Golf Federation's Order of Merit table after producing some solid performances in the recent Dubai Creek Men's Open and the Auriga Masters.

Mirza, who won the Omega Dubai Desert Classic qualifier on Sunday, carded a gross 156 to finish tied fourth at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club and followed it with a brilliant second-place finish in the Auriga Masters — part of the UAE PGA Patrons Cup — at the Els Club.

The 28-year-old Dubai Creek golfer has taken his points tally to 82.20, ahead of his fellow club members Vikram Judge (74) and Paul King (61.50). The first six places on the EGF Order of Merit are occupied by golfers from the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club.

The Dubai Creek Men's Open featured a close contest before J.P. Martin, an overseas player, walked away with the honours on a gross 36-hole total of 148, three shots ahead of P. Fredriksson and six off Judge.

Top UAE national golfer Khalid Yousuf held sway at the Auriga Masters with rounds of 75 and 76 to finish on top after a countback with Mirza, who carded a back-to-back gross 75.