Casey fires caddie

Paul Casey has fired his caddie at the start of Ryder Cup week – and admitted today it was a decision he probably should have taken earlier.

Ken Comboy, who worked for Thomas Bjorn at The Belfry two years ago, was told he was not going to Detroit following the German Masters in Cologne on Sunday.

Casey has hired Glaswegian Craig Connolly instead for the most important week of his career so far.

“It’s unfortunate, but the change had to be made,” said Casey, one of Europe’s five new caps at Oakland Hills.

“This is a business and I need to win as many points as I can.

“The spark that needs to be there and the confidence in each other had gone.

“I am sure Ken is very, very upset and it was not an easy decision to make, but I think we knew it was pretty much over.

“It was something that was going to happen after this week, but then I made the decision on Sunday.

“I wanted our relationship (14 months old) to work, but it probably should have ended after the PGA championship or NEC world championship last month.”

Connolly worked for former Solheim Cup player Helen Alfredsson, but has been good friends with Casey for some time and first carried his bag in the BMW International in Munich three weeks ago.

Comboy was said to be taking a week off then and was back with Casey last week.

But they are believed to have had words about a shot into water on the final hole of the third round and that may have made Casey’s mind up.

The European caddies are provided with clothing for this week just like the players.

On that Casey, who recently made a change of management company, said: “Craig is smaller than Ken – I’ve finally found a caddie that makes me look tall.”