Fisher's confidence high ahead of title defense

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Ross Fisher's runner-up finish at Wentworth moved him from 39th to 22nd in the Official World Golf Rankings.

ASH, England (AP) -- Ross Fisher has won only two titles in his brief European Tour career but feels he has the game to add a major or two to his collection in the near future.

Fisher begins the defense of his European Open title after shooting a closing round 64 in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on Sunday that pushed winner Paul Casey to the wire.

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Fisher's success on the world stage has helped him gain entry into the biggest events.

Fisher, whose first victory was in the 2007 Dutch Open, said his strong finish gives him optimism for the forthcoming majors.

"It definitely gives you confidence you can do it," Fisher said Wednesday. "This was our biggest tournament outside the majors and the World Golf Championships and if I can do it there, if I can get into that position in majors, I know I can do it again."

Casey had to sink birdie putts of 8 and 4 feet on the last two holes to fend off Fisher.

"I couldn't have done more, although I'm a little disappointed that my eagle putt from 15 feet at the last slid by," Fisher said. "I didn't stall when I got to 5 and 6 under. I pressed on and finished 8 under. I'm very confident in my own ability."

He knows Wentworth well as a graduate of its scholarship program for young players.

"Shooting a 64 in the final round with that pressure on my home course with my home crowd, two years after shooting 20 shots more in the final round when I had been leading, brings a lot of fonder memories," he said.

Fisher's first appearance in the Masters in April, where he reached 5-under and led briefly in the first round before two late bogeys dropped him back, has also given him confidence. He eventually finished tied for 30th.

Fisher described Augusta as "a great experience."

"I could not have expected much more from what I did," he said. "I got my name on the leaderboard after 16 holes. It is a course that suits my game and one where I feel I have a good chance of winning."

Fisher, who lost in the semifinals at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona in February, will play the U.S. Open at Bethpage next month, where his distance should be a considerable asset.

Then comes the British Open at Turnberry in July, but he is prepared to leave that tournament at short notice as his wife Joanne is expecting their first child that week.

"Assuming something happens, no matter what's going on, I think I'll be straight out of there," Fisher said. "It's something I've dreamed about for a long, long time and I certainly don't want to miss that... With a 6-shot lead and a round to play, I'll still be on a plane getting out of there."