Struggling Casey backs Plaphol to make the cut

AN alternative career as a tipster could be on the cards for Paul Casey if the first round of the Volvo China Open is anything to go by.

While Casey - at 61st in the world the top-ranked player competing in Shenzhen - struggled to an opening 71, one under par, the man he tipped for success was sharing the lead on seven under.

Asked about the improvement in Asian golf during his pre-tournament press conference, Casey had picked Thailand’s Chawalit Plaphol as a possible star after playing alongside him on his way to victory in the TCL Classic in March.

And it looks as though the Ryder Cup star is a shrewd judge after Plaphol fired two eagles and five birdies in a 65, which was later matched by France’s Francois Delamontagne.

“I’m pleased to see my recommendation up there, I should have put some money on him,” joked Casey after a round featuring three bogeys and four birdies. “Sixty-five is a great score out there, I expected to see a four or five but seven is a tremendous score.

“My own school report would read: ‘Could do better,’ though. I didn’t hit the ball great and got stuck in a couple of bunkers.

“They have tried to remove some of the excess sand but there is so much in there the ball just plugs. I think this week you have to treat them as hazards and just not go in there.

“My swing didn’t feel good today and maybe it was down to working on a few things last week. I have to try to put that aside and concentrate on hitting the shots out there and not worry too much about the swing.”

Veteran Barry Lane struck a blow for the older generation with a five-under 67 to lie two off the lead, with English trio Oliver Wilson, Miles Tunnicliff and Andrew Butterfield among those a shot further back.

Lane, playing in his 542nd European Tour event, fired six birdies and one bogey to carry on from where he left off last season.

The 45-year-old, who finished 47th on the Order of Merit, has wife Camilla as his caddy this week and said: “It’s good fun, although she gets to see what I’m like on the course - a grumpy old man!”

Defending champion Stephen Dodd of Wales fired a one under 71.