Posts Tagged ‘Snowboarding’

Paul Casey: On verge of return

A ‘stronger and fitter’ Paul Casey is expected to return at next week’s Cadillac Championship in Miami.

The English Ryder Cup star has been on the sidelines since dislocating his shoulder in Colorado on Christmas Eve after a snowboarding accident.

It eaned plenty of raised eyebrows – but he is not about to give up on his hobbies.

“Golf is the most important thing in my life because it provides for everything else – the fun things I get to do away from the course,” the 34-year-old told the European Tour website.

“One hundred per cent of my effort goes into that, but when I’m away from the course I love the snowboarding and the mountain biking.

“They’re a great way of getting away from it and not having the worries about tournament golf playing on your mind, so that will never change.”

Prime time

Casey was back hitting drivers in practice last week and states: “I’m stronger and fitter than I’ve ever been, even with the shoulder injury, and I’ve got the mental game that I never used to have.

“I need to get the physical skills up to par and then capitalise on the next 10 years. It is prime time.

“If I think about where I was 10 years ago I’m a completely different golfer, much more accomplished and sure of my own abilities. I’m much more knowledgeable on everything when it comes to the golfing world.

“I’ve got to get out there and start making the birdies and put it to good use – it’s no use being in your prime if you can’t go out there and win tournaments. That’s the most important thing.

“The goals are still the same. It’s just now a shorter time period I’ve got to try to accomplish the 2012 goals in.

“The great thing is I’m not going to miss any majors this year. I’m going to be ready for Augusta (the Masters starts on April 5) and if anything I’m going to go there fresher than I ever have.

“Five tournaments out of a schedule of 25-plus is not a massive amount to miss and if you put that over my career it’s going to be just a blip.

“The goals are still firmly in place and I still firmly believe I can achieve them.

“I want to be part of many more Ryder Cups. For me it provides great memories – the battles you get, the pressure, the stress, the fun away from the course. There are moments I will cherish forever.”

Casey, who missed the last match at Celtic Manor, is currently 25th in the world and is motivated by seeing former teammates Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer in the top four spots.

Surgery

“I watch them with the right attitude,” he said. “Proud of what they are doing, but I want to be right there with them.

“I want to be competing against them and beating them, but I also admire them and try to learn from them by analysing my own game and being brutally honest and self-critical.”

As for his injury, he recalled: “Nice early Christmas present. Just an accident, as simple as that.

“I put the right arm out on the way down and heard the sound.

“I felt a little bit of pain and thought I should carry on at first – I thought ‘why waste a good day’s snowboarding?’ – but five minutes later I couldn’t move it and was heading back down the mountain to get it looked at.

“I was told if it was surgery it was going to be four to six months, but because there was no surgery it was a case of weeks.”