Casey and Rose stake Ryder claims

PAUL CASEY and Justin Rose gave captain Bernhard Langer early notice of their potential as a Ryder Cup partnership with second place in the World Cup.

Trevor Immelman and Rory Sabbatini secured South Africa's second title in three years with a final-round 73 to claim the £825,000 first prize at Kiawah Island, four shots ahead of the young English pair.

England's closing 67 was the joint lowest of the day, earning them £200,000 each, and meant they improved on their third-place finish in Mexico 12 months ago.

France's Thomas Levet and Raphael Jacquelin claimed third place a shot behind England, with Ireland's Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley producing a brilliant fightback over the weekend to claim a share of fifth with pre-tournament favourites Jim Furyk and Justin Leonard of the United States.

South Africa began the day seven shots clear of the field, and 10 ahead of England, following a brilliant 63 in Saturday's four-balls.

They were still five ahead at the turn but the gap was down to three when Casey holed birdie putts from 20 feet on the 14th and 15th, and would have been two if the same player's birdie attempt from similar distance on the 16th had not stopped agonisingly short of the hole.

A bogey on the 17th effectively ended England's slim chances of victory, but Casey's superb approach to three feet on the last set up another birdie, securing second place ahead of France.

The chemistry between the England pair was clear to see, although Casey joked: "It's all a big show, I don't actually like Justin at all." To which Rose quickly replied: "Your bank manager does now, though."

The two are strong contenders to make the team to defend the Ryder Cup trophy at Oakland Hills in Detroit next September, and formed an effective partnership, especially in the more difficult foursomes format.

"I think we trust each other's game," Casey added. "I know Justin is going to give 110% and I hope he feels the same about me.

"We don't apologise to each other after bad shots, and we're just very good friends. That combines to a very good partnership."

Rose added: "We go out in the evening and we always have a good laugh over dinner and talk about things relevant to us because we're similar ages. (Casey is 26, Rose 23).

"The week goes a lot quicker as it's like hanging out with mates. There's no strained conversations or anything like that. Because we're similar ages, we have a lot in common."

Immelman, who is due to get married on December 6, said: "It's a great feeling. We did really well to hang in there on the front nine and our games came together well on the back nine. We were both excited coming here and we had a great week.

"We both played well and holed the vital putts and that's what kept us in it and kept the momentum.

"I hope my fiancee and all the family were watching back in South Africa."

Scotland's Paul Lawrie and Alastair Forsyth finished in a tie for ninth after a closing 74 containing 16 pars and two bogeys, while Wales' Bradley Dredge and Ian Woosnam second after the first round came home in 40 to fade to 12th.