Golf Test: Paul Casey

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Just how much do you have in common with the 13-time European Tour winner Paul Casey? 

Have you ever nearly missed your tee time?
Yes, in the Ryder Cup with Robert Karlsson in 2006. We’d waited to let the Americans get on the tee  first, but then Captain Woosnam came running over and said: ‘You’re on the tee in 30 seconds!’ We just made it for Ivor Robson to announce us. Otherwise we’d have had to walk to the second tee one down. 
TG Score: Birdie

Have you ever shouted “get in the hole,” only for the ball to land 20 yards long?
It happens every year. Sometimes it’s a mystery, but usually it’s because the ball has a little bit of moisture on it and jumps up.
TG Score: Par

Have you ever won a match 10&8?
You tend not to remember the losses. I think I had a 10&8 win over 36 holes against Shaun Micheel in the finals of the World Matchplay at Wentworth.
TG Score: Birdie

Have you ever shot a 59?
I’ve had a putt for a 59 in college at the Broadmoor Golf Club in Seattle while I was playing for Arizona State. I had to settle for a 60, but I still broke Byron Nelson’s course record. I ended up beating a Stanford golfer who was leading by eight entering the final round. He shot 70 and lost by two!
TG Score: Par

Have you ever had a shank in a big event?
I shanked one in the final round at Riviera in 2015. It was the Genesis Open – the same year I lost in a play-off to Dustin Johnson and James Hahn. I was on the 13th, trying to take some distance off a 6-iron, and hit a cold shank almost onto the 9th tee. I then chipped onto the green and made a putt for a par. 
TG Score: Birdie

Have you ever forgotten your weatherproofs and ended up regretting it?
On Sunday at the 2017 Genesis Open, we had 35 holes to play in a day so I took everything out of the bag, knowing my caddie Johnny [McLaren] would be lugging it around all day. For his sake, I took the umbrella and waterproofs out. Typically, 20 minutes into the day it started to rain. 
TG Score: Birdie

Have you ever missed a putt inside two feet?
I missed a putt like that in China. I was leaning over, trying to get out of someone’s line by tapping it in. I’ve never done it since. But I’ve missed other short putts. I missed a one-and-a-half footer at the US PGA in 2016. It was a pull that hit a spike mark for good measure. 
TG Score: Birdie

Have you ever five-putted?
I did on the 15th at The Players Championship in 2016. I had eight feet for birdie and somehow walked off with a triple bogey seven. It was just one mistake after the other. 
TG Score: Birdie

Have you ever hit a shot and ended up further away than where you started?
The par-5 14th hole at Pebble Beach springs to mind. I chunked a pitch up to the green from the fairway and it spun back straight past me. If you don’t get it high enough into that green, the ball will roll back to you. It was embarrassing but I deserved it. 
TG Score: Birdie

Have you ever found your ball in an unusual place?
The strangest one happened at Castle Pines 15 years ago. I pulled my tee shot towards the OB. When I got there, I found my ball sitting in bounds and a guy sitting on his ice cooler with a can of beer on his head. It had hit him on the head out of bounds and then come back in bounds. 
TG Score: Birdie

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