BYRON NELSON TOURNAMENT SECOND ROUND IN TEXAS
CASEY'S 63 AFTER COMING HOME IN 27
REPORT FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
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Paul Casey's back-nine 27 was one shot off the PGA TOUR's nine-hole scoring record. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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IRVING, Texas -- Shooting 27 for nine holes doesn't happen very often on the US PGA Tour. In fact, it's happened just eight times in Tour history. The only nine-hole score lower than that was Corey Pavin's 26 at the U.S. Bank Championship in 2006.
Cheltenham's former Ryder Cup player Paul Casey probably wouldn't have been your top pick to shoot 27 at this week's HP Byron Nelson Championship. After all, he had never seen the course. He had played just seven events this season.
In his 66 rounds on the Tour since 2012, he had just one eagle -- and that was two years ago. Generally, eagles are a fairly necessary element for challenging scoring records.
But there Casey was on the back nine Friday at the HP Byron Nelson Championship, the Englishman setting the course on fire, coming home in 27 that included the second of his two eagles on the day. He finished with a 7-under 63 that vaulted him into an eight-way tie for second at 6 under, two shots back of leader Brendon Todd.
Todd shot 31 on his back nine en route to a 64. He couldn't fathom how anybody could go four shots lower in that stretch.
"I don't see how you shoot 27 there," he said.
Here are four possible reasons to explain Casey's amazing stretch:
1. HE FOUND THE ZONE. On his second shot at the par-5 seventh, he faced a hanging lie, the ball above his feet, 217 yards from the pin. He hit a high cut with a 4-iron, his ball finishing inside 10 feet. "Couldn't have played it any better," said Casey, who was 2 over for his round at the time. "That certainly gave me a shot of confidence."
That was the first of his two eagles. It relaxed him, got his back to even par, and showed that maybe he could make something out of this round. One shot flipped the switch. His concentration level had reached its peak.
"It wasn't like it was the best ball-striking round you've ever seen," Casey said. "I missed fairways and shots, even on that 27. It was the fact that I was so into every single shot and I was in the moment. ... I was 'in the now.' "
How focused was he? Casey didn't even know what he shot on the back nine after he finished. His caddie finally had to tell him.
2. HIS BACK WAS AGAINST THE WALL. After that eagle, Casey gave back a stroke at the ninth when he three-putted. So as he stepped on the 10th tee, he was in danger of missing the cut. He no longer had any position to protect. He had to be aggressive.
"I think it's easier when your back is up against the wall," Casey said. "3-over through six holes isn't exactly a stellar position to be in. ... I was backed into a corner and had to do something."
3. HE GOT A BREAK. After a birdie at the 10th, Casey went for the green at the drivable par-4 11th. His shot came up short and forced him to adjust his stance so he wasn't standing in the greenside bunker. He aimed left of the flag but "sort of toe-shanked it." The ball didn't go where he was aiming, but he got lucky. He was left with a 24-foot birdie putt, which he made.
"I had my good breaks," Casey said. "I had my rub with the green."
4. HE STARTED VERBALIZING. Having watched Jordan Spieth lately on TV -- and having played a few holes with him earlier this week -- Casey noticed that Spieth does a lot of talking with his caddie, discussing his plans for every shot.
That's what Casey did for the last 12 holes Friday. Unfamiliar with the course, Casey decided to talk strategy with his caddie on every shot. "We verbalized everything," he explained. "Described everything I was going to do."
Added Casey: "It allowed me to be incredibly specific with what I was trying to do. I think when you're picking out such a small target, your misses are then smaller as well."
IRVING, Texas -- Shooting 27 for nine holes doesn't happen very often on the US PGA Tour. In fact, it's happened just eight times in Tour history. The only nine-hole score lower than that was Corey Pavin's 26 at the U.S. Bank Championship in 2006.
Cheltenham's former Ryder Cup player Paul Casey probably wouldn't have been your top pick to shoot 27 at this week's HP Byron Nelson Championship. After all, he had never seen the course. He had played just seven events this season.
In his 66 rounds on the Tour since 2012, he had just one eagle -- and that was two years ago. Generally, eagles are a fairly necessary element for challenging scoring records.
But there Casey was on the back nine Friday at the HP Byron Nelson Championship, the Englishman setting the course on fire, coming home in 27 that included the second of his two eagles on the day. He finished with a 7-under 63 that vaulted him into an eight-way tie for second at 6 under, two shots back of leader Brendon Todd.
Todd shot 31 on his back nine en route to a 64. He couldn't fathom how anybody could go four shots lower in that stretch.
"I don't see how you shoot 27 there," he said.
Here are four possible reasons to explain Casey's amazing stretch:
1. HE FOUND THE ZONE. On his second shot at the par-5 seventh, he faced a hanging lie, the ball above his feet, 217 yards from the pin. He hit a high cut with a 4-iron, his ball finishing inside 10 feet. "Couldn't have played it any better," said Casey, who was 2 over for his round at the time. "That certainly gave me a shot of confidence."
That was the first of his two eagles. It relaxed him, got his back to even par, and showed that maybe he could make something out of this round. One shot flipped the switch. His concentration level had reached its peak.
"It wasn't like it was the best ball-striking round you've ever seen," Casey said. "I missed fairways and shots, even on that 27. It was the fact that I was so into every single shot and I was in the moment. ... I was 'in the now.' "
How focused was he? Casey didn't even know what he shot on the back nine after he finished. His caddie finally had to tell him.
2. HIS BACK WAS AGAINST THE WALL. After that eagle, Casey gave back a stroke at the ninth when he three-putted. So as he stepped on the 10th tee, he was in danger of missing the cut. He no longer had any position to protect. He had to be aggressive.
"I think it's easier when your back is up against the wall," Casey said. "3-over through six holes isn't exactly a stellar position to be in. ... I was backed into a corner and had to do something."
3. HE GOT A BREAK. After a birdie at the 10th, Casey went for the green at the drivable par-4 11th. His shot came up short and forced him to adjust his stance so he wasn't standing in the greenside bunker. He aimed left of the flag but "sort of toe-shanked it." The ball didn't go where he was aiming, but he got lucky. He was left with a 24-foot birdie putt, which he made.
"I had my good breaks," Casey said. "I had my rub with the green."
4. HE STARTED VERBALIZING. Having watched Jordan Spieth lately on TV -- and having played a few holes with him earlier this week -- Casey noticed that Spieth does a lot of talking with his caddie, discussing his plans for every shot.
That's what Casey did for the last 12 holes Friday. Unfamiliar with the course, Casey decided to talk strategy with his caddie on every shot. "We verbalized everything," he explained. "Described everything I was going to do."
Added Casey: "It allowed me to be incredibly specific with what I was trying to do. I think when you're picking out such a small target, your misses are then smaller as well."
Most weeks, Morgan Hoffmann puts a Bose speaker in his golf bag during Tuesday practice rounds. Then he and his caddie, Ryan Rue, sing along to the music.
On Friday, they started singing during the middle of his round. "Being as stupid as possible," Hoffmann said.
And what exactly were they singing? Hoffmann thinks it was, 'Here Comes the Hotstepper" (For those unfamiliar with the song, it's by Jamaican reggae artist Ini Kamoze. And yes, we had to Google the information).
Hoffmann shot a bogey-free 66 on Friday, moving him into a tie for second. He was definitely feeling the good vibes.
"Definitely trying to stay positive," Hoffmann said. "Ryan and I are trying to have as much fun as
SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 140 (2x70) Players from USA unless stated
132 Brendon Todd 68 64
134 Graham DeLaet (Canada) 68 66, Morgan Hoffman 68 66, Martin Kaymer (Germany) 67 67, Mike Weir (Canada) 68 66, Paul Casey (England) 71 63, Tim Herron 68 66, Marc Leishman (Australia) 66 68, Charles Howell 68 66
135 Gary Woodland 68 67, Retief Goosen (S Africa) 70 65, Tyrone Van Aswegen (S Africa) 67 68, Ryan Palmer 67 68, Boo Weekley 67 68
SELECTED SCORES
136 Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 68 68, Louis Oosthuizen (S Africa) 68 68, Matt Kuchar 69 67 (T15)
137 Jordan Spieth 70 67 (T19)
141 Brian Davis (England) 70 71
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Labels: US PGA TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Friday, May 16, 2014
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