Late birdie blitz earns Casey third victory of year

PAUL CASEY grabbed his third win of the year yesterday in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

It needed three birdies in the last four holes, however, for the 31-year-old Ryder Cup star to hold off the challenge of fellow Englishman Ross Fisher, whose best-of-the-week 64 was only one outside the West Course record. The outcome was far from certain when Casey, 41st in the world at the start of 2009 and seventh entering the tournament, found a greenside bunker with his approach to the par five last.

But he splashed out to five feet and made no mistake to claim the massive £667,093 (€758,622) first prize at the European Tour’s flagship event.

“It was not an easy putt, but any putt to win is something I would like to have,” said Casey.

“There are great names on this trophy and it feels great. A lot of people have put in a lot of work, but I have to thank Peter Kostis, my coach in the States.

“He’s more than a coach and we set some lofty goals at the start of the year.”

As a youngster growing up in Surrey Casey used to “sneak in” to watch the action on the famous West Course.

But now he has won the venue’s two biggest titles. Three years ago he won the £1million first prize at the World Match Play.

Two years ago Fisher was the one who led with a round to play and on that occasion he crashed to 39th spot with an horrendous 84.

Dane Soren Kjeldsen was third and Welshman Stephen Dodd fourth in a welcome return to form from the former World Cup winner now ranked 477th in the world.

Ireland’s Rory McIlroy was probably expected to mount the stiffest challenge after a Saturday 65 put him third, but he slipped to fifth with a 71.

The most amazing finish came from former Open champion Ben Curtis, who birdied the 15th and 16th and then eagled the two closing par fives for a 67 and joint sixth place.

Defending champion Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez had a moment to remember.

A year after he aced the fifth en route to victory, the 45-year-old Spaniard made only the third albatross of the European season by sinking a 206-yard six-iron to the fourth.