Casey has stomach for a fight

Paul Casey is determined to make up for the disappointment of missing out on the European Tour Order of Merit last year by getting 2007 off to a successful start at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

The Englishman returns from a three-week break to compete against the likes of defending champion Chris DiMarco, debutant and tournament favourite Retief Goosen and eight-time Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie when the Middle East event, the first of three in the region, gets under way at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club By Sheraton tomorrow.

Casey is hungry for success this year after he was pipped to the coveted Order of Merit title by Padraig Harrington at the Volvo Masters in Spain last October, when a stomach bug on the eve of the first round wreaked havoc on his form.

Casey opened with a five-over-par 76 and, although his game improved as he recovered, in the end he was unable to do enough to edge out Harrington.

But the 29-year-old refused to let that situation get to him and instead insisted he is determined more than ever to do even better this year.

“I was very disappointed at missing out on the Order of Merit but it was out of my control in the end,” said Casey.

“If anything I cost myself the Order of Merit by not playing the golf I wanted to play at Valderrama.

“I worked hard to push Padraig (Harrington) all the way and I did that. I felt happy that I managed to do that. You would go crazy if you looked at how much every missed putt would cost you.

“You have to look at what you won or nearly won.

“Winning the Order of Merit this year is back on my list but it is not the only goal on the sheet. I also plan on getting into contention and challenging myself to win a major.”

Casey struggled in the Middle East last year but winning the HSBC World Match Play Championship, as well becoming the only player in Ryder Cup history to win a foursome match with a hole-in-one, confirms his prowess as a golfer.

Casey is hoping he can work the form he showed in those two events into every other tournament he plays in a bid to ensure even more success in the future.

He added: “I think the golf I played at the HSBC and Ryder Cup had a different intensity and I have to figure out why.

“Why was I more intense those two weeks? I wasn’t trying any harder or less, but in certain occasions I made clutch putts to save a half point.

“I had an intensity about me that allowed me to make them. I have to figure out the key.”