Paul Casey is determined to make the most of what could be his last Ryder Cup on home soil after a decade on the sidelines.
Casey was part of the European teams which won by record margins in 2004 and 2006, as well as the defeat at Valhalla in 2008, but was controversially overlooked for a wild card by Colin Montgomerie in 2010 despite being ranked ninth in the world at the time.
The 41-year-old admits he was not playing well enough to be considered for a place in 2012 and 2014 and was ineligible in 2016 after giving up his European Tour membership in order to concentrate on getting back inside the world’s top 50.
Final preparations 📸#TeamEurope #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/xmg1XgAHF3 — Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 27, 2018
But that move paid off in style and the world number 21 held off Tiger Woods to win his first PGA Tour title since 2009 in the Valspar Championship in March, the kind of form which earned him a wild card from Europe captain Thomas Bjorn.
“I made the decision to rejoin the Tour almost two years ago and so to be sitting here now is very satisfying, very enjoyable,” Casey said. “It was obviously the goal to make that team and now the goal is to win points, which I believe I can do, and I’m super excited for this week.
“I think I’ve got more of an appreciation this time around. I’ve taken notes this week and tried to really pay attention to how special this is. I don’t have a diary, but I’m just standing back and making sure I absorb this.
👥🇪🇺👥🇪🇺👥🇪🇺👥🇪🇺👥 Practice day crowds 👏🏻#TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/8aGvsfVWEv — Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 27, 2018
“Ryder Cups in the past have gone so quickly and I just want to make sure I remember this. At 41 I don’t know how many opportunities I’m going to get to play another European-based Ryder Cup. I don’t want this to be my last, but plain and simple, at 41, it’s got a chance that it is.
“So I just want to make sure that I pay attention to it and enjoy it, deliver points, play my heart out, but enjoy it at the same time.”
Casey refused to be drawn on whether the notes were also intended to help him if he was to captain the side himself in the future, a role for which there is certain to be plenty of competition from the likes of Lee Westwood, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Ian Poulter.
And for now he is simply relishing being part of the Ryder Cup once again after 10 years of watching the contest on television.
“It’s the greatest thing on TV,” Casey said with a smile. “But I’ve missed it a lot.
“Yes we hang out a lot on Tour, around the world, when we’re playing, but it’s not the same. I miss putting on the clothes in the morning. I miss that first tee.
“But I think the thing I missed the most is the vibes, the team, how close you get with these guys. They always do become really good friends. Friendships always grow in this situation.”
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