European Tour Insider: Casey joins elite group

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Not only did Paul Casey earn his third title in 2009 last week, but he also moved to No. 3 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Paul Casey has usurped Sergio Garcia in the spot behind Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in the Official World Golf Ranking courtesy of his victory in Europe's flagship event last week.

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Casey hopes his form continues at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, though it's now the majors that are the target. The win at the BMW PGA Championship was his third of the year after the Abu Dhabi Championship and the Shell Houston Open.

Maybe the Wentworth win will have sunk in by now.

"There's something very, very special -- the fantastic names on this trophy, the history of European golf, world golf as well," he said after seeing his name with those of Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, and Ian Woosnam, among others.

In terms of British golf, he's joined Faldo, Woosnam, Sandy Lyle and Colin Montgomerie as the only players to make it to the world's top three.

"It's very flattering to be included in those names," Casey said. "I think I still have a lot to go to get even slightly close to what they achieved in the world of golf."

LONDON CALLING

Garcia has his sights on reclaiming the world No. 3 slot when he plays the European Open at the London Club in England this week.

He'll also have to field questions why he's playing on this side of London as opposed to the Wentworth side of the capital last week.

His continued absence from the BMW PGA Championship -- his last appearance came in 2000 -- still causes a few raised eyebrows. In his defense, everyone applauds his support of the European game in addition to his PGA TOUR appearances -- and he will help pull in the crowds.

The fact that tens of thousands of free advance tickets have been snapped up guarantees spectators get the chance to see Garcia and a host of star names.

GONE FISHING

Wentworth's own Ross Fisher stretched Casey last Sunday with a closing 64 to take second place. He defends the title at this week's event in Kent, and in this form he's bound to be one of the favorites.

Fisher immediately liked the Heritage course at the London Club last year. "The course suits my eye," he said. "To shoot a 63 in the first round, having not seen the course before, shows that."

While he doesn't seem the sort to dress outlandishly or launch his own clothing range, Fisher has been taking advice from Ian Poulter of late.

Poulter suggested he make more of his name and signature so Fisher's shaped his autograph to show a fish. He's had the design transferred for his belt buckle, too, and there are fish on the head cover for his new Scotty Cameron putter.

DODD JOB

Stephen Dodd is aiming to repeat his European Open success of 2006.

The former World Cup winner for Wales has endured a troubled time since that victory at the K Club in Ireland. Dodd didn't manage a single top-10 in the following two seasons.

The game has returned now, though. Dodd can reflect on his best finish at Wentworth -- fourth -- on the back of a sixth place in China.

Softly spoken, a man of few words, Dodd says he feels the benefit of the long break he took from last October after missing 16 cuts.

"It was nice to get away from it (golf), because I was just driving myself into the ground, playing the way I was, and I wasn't enjoying it," Dodd said.

He's likely to be considered one of the favorites for next week when he can stay at home for the Celtic Manor Wales Open.

SANDWICH MAN

Ben Curtis is back in Kent this week. The man from Ohio won his Open Championship at Royal St Georges, just down the road.

Clearly, he's hoping further success is about to come his way, and it would be a nice birthday present, having turned 32 this week.

He enjoyed his appearance at the BMW PGA Championship with an unlikely sixth-place finish. "I'm not a player who makes five or six birdies in a round," Curtis said, but he closed the West Course birdie-birdie-eagle-eagle to earn the top-10.

He's hoping to succeed in the Race to Dubai and to earn himself a place in the Emirates in November. "I see this as a challenge to see how I can do on both Tours," Curtis said.

THE DALY SHOW (AGAIN)

John Daly's roadshow rolls on. He'll be at the London Club, too, and is bound to attract attention once again.

It was old hat at Wentworth, as I'd seen the lurid and psychedelic pants on show in Spain, Italy and Ireland (well, they were under the waterproofs at Baltray). But last week there were photo spreads of him in the newspapers and journalists sporting equally flamboyant clothes, having their photograph taken with the former major champion.

He's an unlikely clothes horse, but those Loudmouth pants are getting a good plug. Daly's joined by fellow Americans Shaun Micheel and Anthony Kang at the European Open.

THE PROFESSIONALS

Daly will share the spotlight with the likes of newly minted pros Shane Lowry and Scott Arnold, as well.

The 3 Irish Open champion Lowry plays his first event as a professional after the amateur dramatics of Baltray.

He's barely had a moment to himself since his astonishing performance in front of his home supporters, and he'll have plenty of observers once again, seeing how he fares now that he putts for dough.

Arnold, an Australian, was ranked as the world's No. 1 amateur -- a distance above Lowry. He was a distance behind Lowry in missing the cut in Ireland, but also feels the time is right to turn pro.

"It's always been my aim to play golf professionally in Europe," Arnold said. "It's definitely where I think my game will improve the most."

BETHPAGE BOUND

Lowry's story has been likened to that of Francis Ouimet in winning the U.S. Open as an amateur at Brookline back in 1913. And do you recall the name of Ouimet's caddie: Eddie Lowery?

International qualifying for the U.S. Open happened Monday at Walton Heath, just a stone's throw from Wentworth -- and what a way to qualify for Peter Hanson.

The Swede was forced into a playoff to decide the 11th spot available for Bethpage. A 6-iron over 206 yards for an ace on the second extra hole meant he'd made it. And it was second hole-in-one for him in two weeks, following one at the Irish Open.