Paul Casey’s first stroke-play event in the U.S. this year produced a tie for 18th place and the acknowledgement that he’s trying to, “not get too tied up,” in the events he’s already missed this year.

The Englishman and former Ryder Cup player did not qualify for either THE PLAYERS Championship or the Masters, two of his favorite tournaments in the world. Two years ago at Augusta National Golf Club, Casey tied for sixth in his first Masters appearance.

“I have played all over the world, but having tasted those two events, I’m really motivated to get back to them because they are great tournaments,” Casey, of Weybridge, England, said after he shot an aggregate 2-under-par 286 two weeks ago in the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club. “You miss out on big tournaments that you’ve been a part of and it hits you that you need to do more with your game. You have to constantly try to improve and do your best.”

Casey, 28, is far from struggling these days as he plays predominantly on the European Tour after joining the PGA TOUR last year thanks to an exemption as a member of the winning 2004 European Ryder Cup team. In 13 starts abroad he’s racked up seven top-10 finishes -- including a quintet in the top five -- and won his fifth European title at the Volvo China Open, defeating Oliver Wilson with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.

Ranked 41st in the world, Casey’s season is going much more smoothly than a year ago when he split time on two tours. He competed in 10 PGA TOUR events in ’05 but never finished higher than 16th at the Ford Championship at Doral. He missed five cuts and withdrew once. He countered that with a decent European Tour campaign highlighted by his win at the TCL Classic, another event in China.

In his only other appearance in the U.S. this year, Casey lost in the first round of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship to Henrik Stenson, 1 up. It was his third straight defeat in the opening round.

“That didn’t make me too happy, especially traveling all that way,” he said with a smile.

But the rest of the season has been another story. “I’ve had a good mindset in every event I have played this year,” said Casey, who works with CBS golf analyst and noted instructor Peter Kostis. “A lot of what happens out there is confidence, and I like what I’ve been doing. Every week, practically, I’ve put myself in a position to do pretty well.”

Paul Casey tied for 18th at the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village. (Messerschmidt/ WireImage)

A former All-American at Arizona State University, where he won three straight Pac-10 championships, Casey’s U.S. schedule includes this week’s U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. He prefers U.S. travel to the challenges of getting to all the European Tour sites on several continents.

“It’s not the easiest thing you know. It can be quite interesting,” he said while choosing to not elaborate.

At least the Ryder Cup is in Ireland. Casey hopes he has to make travel arrangements to get to the K Club and play again for Europe, which dominated the American side two years ago at Oakland Hills Country Club in Birmingham, Mich.

“I’d like to be on that team,” Casey said. “I like that atmosphere. I liked the whole experience, and I would hate to miss it.”

Especially when he feels he’s already missed too much.