Paul Casey, hungry for golf, -
will play in Qatar Masters
NEWS RELEASE BY ALAN EWENS
Commercialbank Qatar Masters Media Officer
Doha, (Qatar): With his recent injury woes firmly behind him, England’s Paul Casey will be looking for a quick return to the top of the leader board - and the world No 7 has the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy, as a key date in his 2010 diary.
The 32-year-old Englishman will have mixed feelings about 2009 after a rib injury forced him to miss almost half of a season that had promised so much and included three global wins that elevated him to a career-high position of world No 3.
But Casey prefers to look on the positive side of a year that still saw him finish fifth in the Tour ranking despite frequent visits to the treatment room.
“It's very easy to look forward because I haven't really been able to play golf since the Open," said Casey. “I've tried to come back and I haven't been ready and that's been frustrating. Now I feel hungry to play a lot of golf. I've already got the schedule at home and mapped it out – 2009 could have been such a great year and it was a great year but it was just half a year. If I can just stay fit and healthy, there's no reason why I can't do better things next year as I did in the beginning of 2009."
Organisers of the $2.5 million event have welcomed Casey’s commitment to the thirteenth staging of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy, to be played at Doha Golf Club from January 28-31.
“Having Paul join the field has again strengthened what is already a very powerful field,” said Hassan Al Nuami, President of the Qatar Golf Association (QGA). “Despite his recent injury, he is still ranked number seven in the world and we are delighted to have him confirmed for Doha.”
While Casey has won twice in Abu Dhabi, he has found the challenge of Doha Golf Club an all-together different proposition despite being one of the best ball strikers in the world. The 2010 event will be his fourth appearance in an event that in 2009 offered more world ranking points than its fellow Desert Swing tournaments in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
“If you look at the stats, I've played three times in Qatar,” added Casey, who last year won the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, the Houston Open and the European Tour's flagship BMW PGA Championship. “Although it's a great field, a great tournament with a wonderful sponsor, it's a golf course that I seem to have trouble with visually. Who knows? It's one of those things.”
With Casey out to improve his recent Qatari record, the Englishman adds further star quality to a line-up featuring golfing big guns such as Kenny Perry, Sergio Garcia, Camilo Villegas, Retief Goosen and defending champion Alvaro Quiros.
“I’m sure everyone that loves golf will be pleased to see Paul back on the fairways,” said Andrew Stevens, Group CEO of title sponsors Commercialbank. “To finish fifth in Europe after playing just fourteen tournaments shows his consistency and we wish him luck as he bids to win in Doha for the first time.”
Doha, (Qatar): With his recent injury woes firmly behind him, England’s Paul Casey will be looking for a quick return to the top of the leader board - and the world No 7 has the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy, as a key date in his 2010 diary.
The 32-year-old Englishman will have mixed feelings about 2009 after a rib injury forced him to miss almost half of a season that had promised so much and included three global wins that elevated him to a career-high position of world No 3.
But Casey prefers to look on the positive side of a year that still saw him finish fifth in the Tour ranking despite frequent visits to the treatment room.
“It's very easy to look forward because I haven't really been able to play golf since the Open," said Casey. “I've tried to come back and I haven't been ready and that's been frustrating. Now I feel hungry to play a lot of golf. I've already got the schedule at home and mapped it out – 2009 could have been such a great year and it was a great year but it was just half a year. If I can just stay fit and healthy, there's no reason why I can't do better things next year as I did in the beginning of 2009."
Organisers of the $2.5 million event have welcomed Casey’s commitment to the thirteenth staging of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy, to be played at Doha Golf Club from January 28-31.
“Having Paul join the field has again strengthened what is already a very powerful field,” said Hassan Al Nuami, President of the Qatar Golf Association (QGA). “Despite his recent injury, he is still ranked number seven in the world and we are delighted to have him confirmed for Doha.”
While Casey has won twice in Abu Dhabi, he has found the challenge of Doha Golf Club an all-together different proposition despite being one of the best ball strikers in the world. The 2010 event will be his fourth appearance in an event that in 2009 offered more world ranking points than its fellow Desert Swing tournaments in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
“If you look at the stats, I've played three times in Qatar,” added Casey, who last year won the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, the Houston Open and the European Tour's flagship BMW PGA Championship. “Although it's a great field, a great tournament with a wonderful sponsor, it's a golf course that I seem to have trouble with visually. Who knows? It's one of those things.”
With Casey out to improve his recent Qatari record, the Englishman adds further star quality to a line-up featuring golfing big guns such as Kenny Perry, Sergio Garcia, Camilo Villegas, Retief Goosen and defending champion Alvaro Quiros.
“I’m sure everyone that loves golf will be pleased to see Paul back on the fairways,” said Andrew Stevens, Group CEO of title sponsors Commercialbank. “To finish fifth in Europe after playing just fourteen tournaments shows his consistency and we wish him luck as he bids to win in Doha for the first time.”
Labels: EUROPEAN TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Saturday, January 02, 2010
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