Casey splits with caddie

Paul Casey has followed Colin Montgomerie's recent example and split with his long-time caddie.

Casey and Craig Connolly, whose first week together was his Ryder Cup debut three years ago, agreed to part after the world number 16 finished 10th in last week's gruelling US Open at Oakmont.

"I've been thinking about it for a while. We've probably been getting at each other and it's best to keep your sanity," said Casey, on the eve of the BMW International Open in Munich where Irishman John Mulrooney will carry his bag.

"Both of us were tired at the end of last week, so when Craig said: 'What do you think?', I said: 'I think we should take a break'. We've had a couple before, so we will see.

"We haven't discussed it any further than this week. Watch this space - but John knows it's just this week for him.

"Craig and I were friends before we were working together, so to save the friendship it was best probably to take away the golf.

"Last time it was good because I had a few weeks using other guys and then we came back and played some great golf."

Who is next at Montgomerie's side remained to be seen.

The Scot dropped Alastair McLean before the US Open, used a local caddie there as he missed the cut, but was an absentee from today's pro-am in Germany.

"He's ill," commented manager Guy Kinnings. "He was due to get back from Canada this morning and then fly straight out here, but did not feel up to it and so was planning to catch a later flight."

At least that news came as a relief to the sponsors after American star John Daly withdrew from the tournament on Tuesday night "for personal reasons".

Daly, winner of the title in 2001, called in the police two weeks ago claiming his wife tried to stab him while he was in bed.

His next appearance in Europe is due to be the Open at Carnoustie in four weeks' time.

There was a rumour Connolly was going to switch to Montgomerie, who celebrates his 44th birthday on Saturday, but Kinnings insisted he knew nothing about that.

"It will be somebody temporary this week, then we will sit down and discuss things on Monday," he said.

"I've been inundated by texts, emails and phone calls and after weeding out the enthusiastic, but inappropriate people off the street I've got a list of about 30 professional caddies offering their services."

Montgomerie's second round 82 last week was his second-worst round in a major - and it completed a clean sweep of missed cuts in them since his closing double bogey when leading last year's US Open.

Ernie Els, himself only 51st on his return to the Oakmont course where he beat Montgomerie in a play-off in 1994, has also made the trip to Munich and so have Swede Niclas Fasth and England's Nick Dougherty, Europe's top two performers last week in fourth and seventh place.

Of the three players who were in a play-off here last year - Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington and Retief Goosen - only Order of Merit leader Henrik Stenson is back.

But there has to be an element of doubt whether Stenson, who grabbed the title with an eagle at the first extra hole, will stay to the end.

His wife Emma is expecting their first child next week, but so was Tiger Woods' wife Elin and she gave birth to their daughter Sam Alexis on Monday.

"I've told her to sit still and cross her legs, but you never know," said Stenson, who has not been able to sustain his brilliant form earlier in the season and shot 79-76 to miss the cut at Oakmont.