Casey continues to rise from slump

RYDER CUP star Paul Casey provided further proof he has overcome the worst slump in his career by impressing in the Linde German Masters in Cologne.

Casey, third in Switzerland on Sunday, carded a first-round 67, five under par, to lie one shot off the lead after a sweltering day at Gut Larchenhof where temperatures reached 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

English duo Barry Lane and Andrew Marshall, and Wales’ Bradley Dredge were among a six-strong group sharing the lead on six under, with Casey in a group including tournament promoter Bernhard Langer and double US Open champion Retief Goosen.

After winning the TCL Classic earlier this season, Casey was an amazing 61 over par for 11 rounds up to and including the Open championship at St Andrews.

A 68 in the NEC Invitational last month was the first time he had broken 70 since his victory in China and third in the European Masters behind Sergio Garcia proved he was getting back to his best.

“I’m very happy with the game, it’s right where I want it to be,” said Casey, who carded six birdies and one bogey.

“I played nicely at the BMW International but for some reason I just didn’t feel energised and then got to Switzerland, knew the Ryder Cup points were starting and that was obviously the kind of kick I needed I guess.

“Another goal is to get back into the top 50 in the world by the end of the year to get back into the majors.

“There is a lot of golf still to be played this year and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Some of that golf could come in the Seve Trophy in a fortnight’s time, with Britain and Ireland captain Colin Montgomerie - who struggled to a 72 - strongly hinting Casey will be his wild card pick as the next player on the world rankings.

“That’s good, it means I don’t have to bribe him,” joked Casey, who is also waiting to hear if Luke Donald picks him to defend the World Cup in Portugal in November.

Lane, who held a one-shot lead playing the last hole of the Portuguese Open in April but ran up a quintuple-bogey nine, revealed he almost pulled out after suffering the recurrence of a knee injury.

“I had surgery on my left knee earlier this year and yesterday I was in all sorts of problems with it,” explained the 45-year-old, playing in his 537th tour event.

“I woke up this morning and told my wife I didn’t think I would be able to play.

“I think it’s as a result of trying to fade the ball on the range on Tuesday and putting too much weight on the knee but I took anti-inflammatories and hopefully I will be okay for tomorrow. They can push me round in a wheelchair after shooting 66.

Australian Peter Senior, Austria’s Markus Brier and Zimbabwe’s Marc Cayeux made up the leading group on six under, Cayeux taking full advantage of his last-minute call-up.

Cayeux - who sends money back to his parents in crisis-torn Zimbabwe - had his bags packed and was heading for the airport when he found out Italy’s Emanuele Canonica had been forced to pull out with a neck injury.