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Paul Casey
Paul Casey
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Paul Alexander Casey (born 21 July 1977) is an English golfer who is a member of LIV Golf. He has also played on the US-based PGA Tour and the European Tour. In 2009, he achieved his highest position, third, in the Official World Golf Ranking.[2][3]

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Casey was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, but moved with his family to Weybridge, Surrey at the age of six. After attending Cleves School, Weybridge and then Hampton School, west London, he studied A levels at Strode's College, Egham, Surrey.

Amateur career

[edit]

Casey attended Arizona State University on an athletic scholarship. His amateur career was distinguished. In the US he won three consecutive Pac-12 Championships (1998, 1999 and 2000). In 2000 he broke the championship scoring record held by Tiger Woods (18 under par) with a 23-under-par 265.

Back on the other side of the Atlantic he won the English Amateur in 1999 and 2000. He was also a member of Great Britain and Ireland's winning 1999 Walker Cup team, where he was only the third player in 77 years to record four victories without a single defeat.

Professional career

[edit]

Casey joined the European Tour in May 2001, and recorded a second in his fifth event and a win in his eleventh, the Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship. He ended that season 22nd on the order of merit and won the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award. After a disappointing second season he won the ANZ Championship and the Benson and Hedges International Open in 2003, and came sixth on the Order of Merit.

Casey did not win any individual titles in 2004, but he was a member of the victorious European Ryder Cup team and also won the WGC-World Cup for England in partnership with Luke Donald. Another highlight of his year was a sixth-place finish in his first Masters. He joined the PGA Tour shortly afterwards as a Special Temporary Member and his membership of the 2004 European Ryder Cup Team qualified him for membership of the US based tour for the 2005 season. However he continues to play mainly in Europe, and was the leader of the European Tour Order of Merit in 2006, until Pádraig Harrington overtook him in the final event. He re-joined the PGA Tour in 2009.

Casey has featured in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking and was the highest ranked Englishman for a time. In January 2007 he reached a career high of No. 13 in the rankings.[4]

In 2006, Casey won the HSBC World Match Play Championship at Wentworth, beating Shaun Micheel 10 and 8 in a record victory for the final. Casey became the only player in Ryder Cup history to win a foursome match with a hole-in-one on Saturday, 23 September 2006, in Ireland.

Casey sparked controversy in November 2004, when in an interview for the Sunday Times newspaper he reportedly said, of the US Ryder Cup team, "Oh, we properly hate them. We wanted to beat them as badly as possible". Several leading American golfers, including Fred Funk and Davis Love III, publicly dismissed the controversy surrounding Casey as tabloid mischief. Casey later apologised, saying the remarks were taken out of context and using the word "hate" was an error. Casey said he has an American coach (Peter Kostis) and an American girlfriend, and says he "has nothing against America".[5]

Casey earned his first PGA Tour win on 5 April 2009 by defeating J. B. Holmes in a one-hole playoff at the Shell Houston Open.[6] This win took him to No. 6 in the Official World Golf Ranking.[7]

Casey (left) celebrates after winning the 2009 BMW PGA Championship.

Casey won his milestone 10th event on the European Tour at the 2009 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey, where he won by one stroke over Wentworth resident and fellow Englishman Ross Fisher. This win vaulted Casey to a career high of 3rd in the Official World Golf Ranking.[2] He had been ranked at No. 41 at the beginning of 2009.[3] Casey suffered a rib injury at the 2009 Open Championship, limiting the amount of golf he could play in the second half of 2009.

In January 2011, Casey won the Volvo Golf Champions tournament in Bahrain, which was his first win for 20 months.[8]

Casey won the 2012 Telus World Skins Game in Canada, having defeated Jhonattan Vegas in a tiebreaker during the event in July.[9]

In June 2013, Casey won his 12th European Tour title at The Irish Open to end a two-and-a-half-year winless drought, due to form and fitness problems.[10] He captured the title with a final round 67 in changeable conditions, to win by three strokes over Joost Luiten and Robert Rock. He had begun the day four shots behind the leader Luiten, but a run of five birdies in six holes in the middle of the round opened up a three shot lead. It was reduced to one stroke, when Casey bogeyed the 15th and 16th, but a closing eagle on the par five 18th sealed the victory.[11]

In September 2014, Casey won his 13th European Tour title at the KLM Open in the Netherlands, his first victory of the 2014 season. He took victory after posting a final round 66, putting him one shot ahead of runner up, and fellow Englishman Simon Dyson. He started the final round four strokes off the lead of Romain Wattel. The victory was especially emotional and gratifying as Casey's wife Pollyanna had given birth to the couple's first child two weeks prior to the event.[12]

In 2015, Casey chose to give up his European Tour exemption and focus solely on the PGA Tour, citing a need to lessen his travel.[13] In February 2015, Casey finished in a tie for second at the Northern Trust Open after losing in a sudden-death playoff to James Hahn. Casey finished the tournament at six-under-par, tied with Hahn and Dustin Johnson. After the trio all parred the first extra hole, Casey could only make a par on the second extra hole and was eliminated when Hahn and Johnson both got up and down for birdies from the green-side rough. Casey continued his good form in America the following week, when he finished in a tie for third at the Honda Classic, one shot outside a playoff. Two weeks later he equalled his 2004 performance by finishing tied for 6th place in the 2015 Masters.

In 2016, Casey finished 2nd at both the Deutsche Bank Championship and the BMW Championship before finishing 4th at the Tour Championship to finish 5th in the 2016 FedEx Cup Playoffs, his best career performance in the Playoffs.

In December 2015, Casey chose not to rejoin the European Tour for the following 2016 season, which made himself unavailable to qualify for the 2016 Ryder Cup.[14] Casey reached the 15th position in the Official World Golf Rankings, just prior to the 2016 Ryder Cup, due to his in-form performances in the PGA Tour playoff tournaments immediately before the Ryder Cup event.[15] Casey admitted that he was hurt that he was not able to participate in the 2016 Ryder Cup, due to his decision then not to obtain European Tour member status, whilst others noted that England's most in-form golfer then, was remarkably absent from the premier golf team event.[16]

Casey rejoined the tour in late October 2017 with aspirations of making the European team for the 2018 match at Le Golf National.[17] Casey remarked that he needed to play in another Ryder Cup, he missed the European Tour and being part of English golf.[18] Casey was subsequently selected for the EurAsia Cup in January 2018.[19] Casey scored two points out of a possible three and, ahead of the tournament, said he had 'no issues' speaking with 2010 Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, who infamously overlooked the then world No. 9 for a spot on the European team at Celtic Manor.[20] However, Casey admitted that he was hurt by the omission from Team Europe of the 2010 Ryder Cup, by not scoring sufficient points to qualify for the team, whilst having never questioned the captain's decisions on selecting individual picks for the team.[21] Casey also acknowledged that he was not selected for the Ryder Cup teams in both 2012 and 2014, as he struggled with his golf game then.[22]

Casey won the Valspar Championship in 2018, his first PGA Tour win in nine years.

In September 2018, Casey was named as a captain's pick by Thomas Bjørn for the European team participating in the 2018 Ryder Cup. Europe defeated the U.S. team by a dominant margin of 17.5 to 10.5 at Le Golf National outside Paris, France. Casey went 1–1–1 including a half in his singles match against Brooks Koepka.[23]

Casey missed a chance to win the 2019 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, when he failed to convert a three-stroke 54-hole lead. He was chased down and passed by Phil Mickelson, who claimed a three-stroke victory. Casey birdied the last during a Monday finish to claim solo second. He did however win the Pro-Am tournament with playing partner Don Colleran.[24]

In March 2019, Casey successfully defended his Valspar Championship title with a one-stroke victory over Jason Kokrak and Louis Oosthuizen, to claim his third PGA Tour title.

In September 2019, Casey won the Porsche European Open at Green Eagle Golf Course in Hamburg, Germany. Casey earned his 14th European Tour victory and his first since winning the KLM Open in 2014.[25]

Paul Casey tees off at Trump National in Bedminster, NJ, while competing for LIV Golf.  Casey placed 6th at the LIV Golf Invitational Bedminster.

In August 2020, Casey finished tied for second at the 2020 PGA Championship along with Dustin Johnson, both finished two strokes behind Collin Morikawa. This marked his best career finish in a major championship and moved him to 19th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

In November 2020, Casey shot a seven under 65 to hold a share of the first round lead at the Masters. He ultimately finished the tournament T38, with subsequent rounds of 74-71-77.

In January 2021, Casey claimed his 15th European Tour victory, at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, with a four-stroke victory over Brandon Stone.[26] The win saw him move back into the top 20 in the world rankings. In August that year, Casey finished in a tie for 3rd place at the Olympic Games. He lost in a 7-man playoff for the bronze medal.[27]

In September 2021, Casey played on the European team in the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin. The U.S. team won 19–9 and Casey went 0–4–0 and including a loss in his Sunday singles match against Dustin Johnson.

In July 2022, Casey joined the LIV Golf tour and placed sixth at his first tournament at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, winning $648,000 in the process. Casey competes for Crushers GC in LIV Golf. Casey then finished 21st at LIV Golf Invitational Boston, played at The International Golf Club in Bolton, Massachusetts, talking home $171,200. In 2023, Casey's team Crushers GC took home the team event victory at LIV Golf Mexico held at the El Camaleon Golf Course in Mayakoba.

Personal life

[edit]

In 2008, he married Jocelyn Hefner, a distant cousin of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner. The couple lived a quiet life on a remote ranch in rural Arizona, where keen amateur horse woman Jocelyn competed in local equestrian events. The couple divorced in 2011, citing the impact of the demands of Casey's career on their marriage.[28]

After they met at the Formula 1 Chequered Flag Ball at the 2011 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Casey started dating television presenter Pollyanna Woodward.[29] The couple got engaged during the Christmas period in 2013.[29] Soon after, they welcomed their first son, Lex, on 1 September 2014. They married January 2015.

Amateur wins

[edit]

Professional wins (21)

[edit]

PGA Tour wins (3)

[edit]
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1 5 Apr 2009 Shell Houston Open 66-70-69-72=277 −11 Playoff United States J. B. Holmes
2 11 Mar 2018 Valspar Championship 70-68-71-65=274 −10 1 stroke United States Patrick Reed, United States Tiger Woods
3 24 Mar 2019 Valspar Championship (2) 70-66-68-72=276 −8 1 stroke United States Jason Kokrak, South Africa Louis Oosthuizen

PGA Tour playoff record (1–2)

No. Year Tournament Opponent(s) Result
1 2009 Shell Houston Open United States J. B. Holmes Won with bogey on first extra hole
2 2015 Northern Trust Open United States James Hahn, United States Dustin Johnson Hahn won with birdie on third extra hole
Casey eliminated by birdie on second hole
3 2015 Travelers Championship United States Bubba Watson Lost to birdie on second extra hole

European Tour wins (15)

[edit]
Legend
Flagship events (1)
Other European Tour (14)
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1 26 Aug 2001 Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship 69-69-67-69=274 −14 1 stroke Germany Alex Čejka
2 9 Feb 2003 ANZ Championship1 45 pts (8-10-21-6=45) 4 points Australia Stuart Appleby, Australia Nick O'Hern
3 11 May 2003 Benson & Hedges International Open 71-69-66-71=277 −11 4 strokes Republic of Ireland Pádraig Harrington
4 20 Mar 2005 TCL Classic2 64-68-68-66=266 −22 Playoff Republic of Ireland Paul McGinley
5 27 Nov 2005
(2006 season)
Volvo China Open2 71-69-70-65=275 −13 Playoff England Oliver Wilson
6 25 Jun 2006 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles (2) 67-71-66-72=276 −16 1 stroke Denmark Søren Hansen, England Andrew Marshall
7 17 Sep 2006 HSBC World Match Play Championship 10 and 8 United States Shaun Micheel
8 21 Jan 2007 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship 71-68-67-65=271 −17 1 stroke Sweden Peter Hanson, Spain Miguel Ángel Jiménez
9 18 Jan 2009 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship (2) 69-65-63-70=267 −21 1 stroke Germany Martin Kaymer, South Africa Louis Oosthuizen
10 24 May 2009 BMW PGA Championship 69-67-67-68=271 −17 1 stroke England Ross Fisher
11 30 Jan 2011 Volvo Golf Champions 67-67-66-68=268 −20 1 stroke Sweden Peter Hanson, Spain Miguel Ángel Jiménez
12 30 Jun 2013 Irish Open 68-72-67-67=274 −14 3 strokes Netherlands Joost Luiten, England Robert Rock
13 14 Sep 2014 KLM Open 68-70-62-66=266 −14 1 stroke England Simon Dyson
14 8 Sep 2019 Porsche European Open 66-73-69-66=274 −14 1 stroke Scotland Robert MacIntyre, Germany Bernd Ritthammer,
Austria Matthias Schwab
15 31 Jan 2021 Omega Dubai Desert Classic 67-70-64-70=271 −17 4 strokes South Africa Brandon Stone

1Co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia
2Co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour

European Tour playoff record (2–1)

No. Year Tournament Opponent Result
1 2004 Celtic Manor Wales Open England Simon Khan Lost to birdie on second extra hole
2 2005 TCL Classic Republic of Ireland Paul McGinley Won with birdie on second extra hole
3 2005 Volvo China Open England Oliver Wilson Won with birdie on first extra hole

Asian Tour wins (2)

[edit]
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory
Runner-up
1 20 Mar 2005 TCL Classic2 64-68-68-66=266 −22 Playoff Republic of Ireland Paul McGinley
2 27 Nov 2005 Volvo China Open2 71-69-70-65=275 −13 Playoff England Oliver Wilson

Asian Tour playoff record (2–0)

No. Year Tournament Opponent Result
1 2005 TCL Classic Republic of Ireland Paul McGinley Won with birdie on second extra hole
2 2005 Volvo China Open England Oliver Wilson Won with birdie on first extra hole

Korean Tour wins (1)

[edit]
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory
Runners-up
1 2 Oct 2011 Shinhan Donghae Open 77-73-69-69=288 E 1 stroke South Korea Kang Sung-hoon, South Korea Kim Kyung-tae

Other wins (2)

[edit]
Legend
World Golf Championships (1)
Other wins (1)
No. Year Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1 21 Nov 2004 WGC-World Cup
(with England Luke Donald)
61-64-68-64=257 −31 1 stroke  SpainSergio García and Miguel Ángel Jiménez
2 31 Jul 2012 Telus World Skins Game $185,000 $100,000 Venezuela Jhonattan Vegas

Playoff record

[edit]

LIV Golf League playoff record (0–2)

No. Year Tournament Opponents Result
1 2024 LIV Golf Hong Kong Mexico Abraham Ancer, Australia Cameron Smith Ancer won with birdie on first extra hole
2 2025 LIV Golf Dallas Japan Jinichiro Kozuma, South Africa Louis Oosthuizen,
United States Patrick Reed
Reed won with birdie on first extra hole

Results in major championships

[edit]

Results not in chronological order in 2020.

Tournament 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Masters Tournament T6 CUT T10 T11 T20
U.S. Open CUT CUT WD 15 T10 T65 CUT
The Open Championship CUT CUT T20 CUT 71 T27 T7 T47
PGA Championship CUT 66 CUT T59 CUT T40 T15
Tournament 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Masters Tournament CUT T38 CUT T6 T4 6 T15
U.S. Open T40 CUT T45 T56 T39 CUT 26 T16
The Open Championship T3 T54 CUT T47 T74 CUT T11 T51
PGA Championship T12 T72 CUT T33 CUT T30 T10 T13 CUT
Tournament 2019 2020 2021 2022
Masters Tournament CUT T38 T26
PGA Championship T29 T2 T4
U.S. Open T21 T17 T7
The Open Championship T57 NT T15 T53
  Top 10
  Did not play

WD = withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
NT = No tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic

Summary

[edit]
Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts made
Masters Tournament 0 0 0 1 5 8 15 11
PGA Championship 0 1 0 2 3 6 19 13
U.S. Open 0 0 0 0 2 6 18 12
The Open Championship 0 0 1 1 2 5 19 14
Totals 0 1 1 4 12 25 71 50
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 11 (2019 PGA – 2022 Open Championship, current)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (three times)

Results in The Players Championship

[edit]
Tournament 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
The Players Championship T10 CUT CUT CUT T14
Tournament 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
The Players Championship CUT CUT WD WD T23 T22 CUT
Tournament 2020 2021 2022
The Players Championship C T5 3
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the halfway cut
WD = withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place
C = Cancelled after the first round due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Results in World Golf Championships

[edit]

Results not in chronological order before 2015.

Tournament 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Championship T8 T21 T56 T9 T51 T31 T6 T18 T51 T38 7 T16 T12 T3
Match Play R64 R64 R64 R64 QF R16 2 2 R32 QF T51 R16 T17 R16
Invitational T17 T16 T19 T4 T51 T8 WD T22 T45 T27 T17 T16 T5 T31 T27
Champions WD T6 T4 20 T23 T12 T11 T16 T38
Tournament 2020 2021 2022
Championship 11
Match Play NT1 T28 T60
Invitational T67 T5
Champions NT1 NT1 NT1

1Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

  Top 10
  Did not play

WD = Withdrew
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
NT = no tournament
"T" = tied
Note that the HSBC Champions did not become a WGC event until 2009.
Note that the Championship and Invitational were discontinued from 2022.

Team appearances

[edit]

Amateur

Professional

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Paul Casey (born 21 July 1977) is an English professional golfer who competes on the league. Having turned professional in 2000 following a collegiate career at where he won six tournaments, Casey has secured 21 victories worldwide across 13 countries. These include 15 wins on the DP World Tour, spanning from the 2001 TCL Classic to the 2021 , and three on the . Casey represented Europe in the on four occasions (2004, 2006, 2008, and 2018), maintaining an undefeated record in nine of his 12 matches and contributing to three team victories. Known for his consistent ball-striking and resilience amid injuries, he joined in 2022, citing improved scheduling and physical recovery as factors enabling sustained performance into his late 40s.

Early life

Family background and childhood

Paul Casey was born on July 21, 1977, in , , , to parents Patricia Casey and Terry Casey. His paternal grandfather had competed on the European Tour during the , establishing a family connection to professional . At age six, Casey's family relocated to , , where he spent much of his childhood. He attended Cleves School in nearby Weybridge and later in Richmond upon Thames. Casey developed an early interest in sports through his father's influence, with Terry Casey described as an accomplished amateur golfer who introduced him to the game. The family frequented in Ottershaw, , where young Casey initially pursued a scholarship before securing a scholarship at age 11 after demonstrating proficiency. By that age, he had already become a capable junior golfer, honing his skills on the club's courses.

Education and influences

Casey attended Cleves School in , , followed by in . He completed A-levels at Strode's College in , , before securing a golf scholarship to in the United States. At Arizona State, Casey competed for three seasons, contributing to three Pac-10 Conference men's championships and earning three All-American honors. He forwent his senior year to turn in 2000. Casey's early golfing influences included his father, Terry Casey, a who managed the men's team and introduced him to the sport around age eight through play at Foxhills Golf Club. In a 2019 interview, Casey described his father as a key figure despite the latter's self-described poor playing ability, crediting him for foundational encouragement alongside multiple other personal factors. Later, swing coach Peter Kostis emerged as a primary mentor, providing long-term guidance on technique and mental approach.

Amateur career

Junior and national successes

Casey began competing in junior golf events in England, securing the Surrey Junior Championship title in 1995 while based at Foxhills Golf Club. Two years later, in 1997, he claimed the Colts Championship, a national under-21 competition. Transitioning to senior amateur events, Casey dominated the English Amateur Championship, winning back-to-back titles in 1999 and 2000. These victories established him as one of 's top prospects. On the international stage, Casey represented and in the 1999 at Nairn Golf Club, , where the team defeated the 9.5–14.5; he posted a perfect 4–0 record across two foursomes and two singles matches, the first such undefeated performance in 77 years. The following year, competing for and in the at Sporting Club , , Casey led all individuals with a score of 203, two strokes clear of the next competitor.

College career at Arizona State University

Paul Casey attended on an , competing for the Sun Devils men's golf team from 1997 to 2000 under head coach Randy Lein. During his tenure, he established himself as one of the program's most dominant players, securing six individual tournament victories, a total that tied for third in ASU history at the time. Casey captured three consecutive Pac-10 individual championships from 1998 to 2000, becoming the first golfer in conference history to achieve this feat and only the second in Pac-10 history overall to win three titles. He also won the 1998 NCAA West Regional championship. These successes earned him All-American recognition, including first-team honors in 2000. At the 2000 NCAA Championships, Casey claimed the individual title with a record-breaking score of 23-under-par 265 (66-65-67-67), surpassing ' previous tournament record of 18-under 270 from the 1996 event. He additionally broke Phil Mickelson's ASU school record for the lowest career scoring average. Following this standout season, Casey turned professional in 2000 without completing his degree.

Pre-LIV professional career

Turning professional and initial wins

Casey turned professional in 2000 after completing his collegiate career at , where he had been a standout . He initially competed on developmental circuits and qualified for select European Tour events late in the year, but did not record a victory in his debut professional season. In 2001, Casey earned full playing privileges on the European Tour and quickly established himself with a breakthrough win at the Gleneagles Scottish in August, defeating Sweden's Henrik Nyholm by three strokes to claim his first professional title on just his 11th Tour start. This victory, held at Gleneagles' King's Course, propelled him into the Tour's top rookie contenders and marked the beginning of a consistent run of strong performances, including multiple top-10 finishes that season. His second European Tour win came in 2003 at the in , where he finished two strokes ahead of the field, solidifying his status as an emerging talent capable of contending in co-sanctioned events. These early successes, achieved within his first three professional seasons, demonstrated Casey's transition from amateur promise to professional reliability, though he had yet to challenge for major championships.

Peak achievements on PGA and European Tours


Paul Casey's peak performance on the PGA and European Tours spanned the mid-2000s to early , marked by multiple tournament victories, a career-high of third achieved on June 1, 2009, and recognition as the European Tour Golfer of the Year in 2006. During this period, he secured 15 European Tour titles, including flagship events like the in 2009 at , where he finished four strokes ahead of the field. His early European Tour success began with a win at the 2001 Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship on his 11th start, followed by additional victories in 2003 and consistent contention thereafter.
On the , Casey's highlights included three wins, with a standout 2009 season featuring the Shell Houston Open victory, where he closed with a final-round 66 to edge out the field by one stroke. He demonstrated resurgence in and 2019 by winning the in consecutive years, becoming the first player to achieve back-to-back titles in the event; in , he finished with a 6-under 65 to win by one shot, and in 2019, he held off challengers at 8-under 276. These triumphs contributed to 69 top-10 finishes across 304 starts, underscoring his sustained elite-level play. Later European Tour wins, such as the 2014 KLM Open, 2019 Porsche European Open, and 2021 Omega —his 15th title—extended his peak influence into the early 2020s.

Injuries, setbacks, and resurgence

In the latter half of the , Casey encountered recurrent injuries that disrupted his momentum, including strains that forced withdrawals from key events such as the 2009 HSBC Champions after two holes and the due to a pulled muscle under his . These issues sidelined him for the second half of the 2009 season, causing him to miss the USPGA Championship and contributing to his exclusion from the squad despite strong prior form. A turf toe injury in late 2010 exacerbated ongoing physical challenges, compounded by personal setbacks including a finalized in 2011, which correlated with a sharp decline in results and the loss of his card that November. The most significant blow came in December 2011, when Casey dislocated his right in a snowboarding accident in , requiring two months sidelined and damaging his prospects under captain . He avoided but returned prematurely in March 2012, leading to persistent shoulder pain that prompted withdrawals from the , the US Open, and . Intermittent back spasms added to the toll, notably forcing a withdrawal from the 2018 while ranked 12th globally and creating a injury scare at the Championship that September. Collectively, these ailments—spanning shoulders, ribs, back, and lower extremities since 2005—interrupted a trajectory of multiple tour victories and top-10 world rankings, resulting in extended win droughts and ranking volatility. Casey's resurgence began post-2012 with focused rehabilitation and technical adjustments, yielding a Czech Masters victory in June 2013—his first title since the 2011 Irish Open—and contention in majors like a tie for third at the that August. By 2016, statistical gains in strokes gained putting, driving accuracy, and scrambling efficiency mirrored his return to elite contention, with eight top-10 finishes across PGA and European Tours, including a runner-up at the Masters. This period extended into wins at the 2014 KLM Open and bridged a five-year European Tour drought with the 2019 Porsche European Open, reestablishing him as a consistent major performer through 2021.

Transition to LIV Golf

Motivations for joining

Paul Casey, who joined in July 2022, cited the physical and mental toll of the and DP World Tour schedules as primary motivations for his decision. After decades of professional play involving extensive global travel and a compressed , Casey described reaching a "breaking point" due to burnout, stating that the traditional tours' demands were unsustainable long-term. A significant personal factor was the health of his longtime , John "Johnny" McLaren, who underwent to remove a in April prior to Casey's move. Casey expressed concerns that continuing on the established tours would jeopardize McLaren's recovery, as the rigorous schedule limited recovery time and increased stress; discussions with McLaren reinforced the need for a less demanding format offered by LIV Golf's shorter season and fewer events. Despite earlier criticisms of Saudi Arabia's involvement in golf—stemming from his role as a ambassador and his 2019 refusal to participate in the Saudi International over concerns in —Casey later engaged directly with Saudi officials and expressed belief in their commitments to reform, which alleviated prior reservations and facilitated his participation. He emphasized that LIV's team-based, limited-field events provided better work-life balance without intending to undermine the sport's established structures.

Public criticisms and Casey's responses

Paul Casey faced significant public scrutiny for joining in June 2022, particularly given his prior vocal opposition to Saudi Arabia's involvement in professional . As a former ambassador, Casey had boycotted the 2018 Saudi International tournament on the European Tour, stating that accepting payment from the Saudi government would make him a "hypocrite" due to the kingdom's record, including restrictions on and the 2018 of journalist . Critics, including media and fans, accused him of for accepting substantial financial incentives from , which is backed by Saudi Arabia's (PIF), amid broader condemnations of the league as an effort to "sportswash" the regime's image despite ongoing issues such as executions for dissent and poor LGBTQ+ protections. Additional backlash arose from Casey's perceived evasion of tough questions. During a July 2022 LIV Golf event at Trump National Golf Club, he was quickly escorted away by league officials after a reporter inquired about Saudi Arabia's links to the 9/11 attacks, where 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals. The DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) imposed fines exceeding $1 million and suspensions on Casey and other defectors for violating regulations against unauthorized events, prompting accusations from him that the tour had retroactively "moved the goalposts" by inconsistently enforcing rules that previously allowed participation in similar overseas tournaments. In response, Casey defended his decision by emphasizing Saudi Arabia's ongoing reforms, arguing that "it's not where you're at, it's where you're going," and claiming LIV's presence was fostering positive change through economic investment and exposure. He cited personal factors, including physical burnout after two decades on tour and the April 2022 diagnosis and surgery for a in his longtime , Johnny McLaren, which underscored the need for LIV's lighter schedule to prioritize health and family. Casey maintained that his move was not intended to harm 's established tours, expressing regret over potential "collateral damage" but asserting players lacked incentive to mediate the PGA Tour-LIV divide amid ongoing legal battles.

LIV Golf career

Performance and tournament results

Paul Casey joined in July 2022 and has since competed as a member of Crushers GC, establishing himself as a reliable performer with strong iron play but without securing an individual title. In his debut event at , he finished sixth, earning $648,000. Across 44 events through August 2025, Casey has amassed approximately $29 million in earnings, reflecting consistent scoring in the 54-hole, no-cut format. In the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Casey's results were solid but unremarkable, with finishes typically in the mid-pack, including a 21st place in one early event, as he adapted to the team-oriented structure and starts. His performance elevated in 2024, where he achieved five top-10 finishes, highlighted by a tie for second at after losing a three-man playoff, demonstrating improved consistency in approach shots. The 2025 season marked Casey's strongest to date, culminating in a 16th-place finish in the individual standings after completing all 13 regular-season events with 71.47 points. Key results included a tied fifth at LIV Golf Chicago (206, -7) and tied 10th at LIV Golf Singapore (seven-under total), alongside leading the field in strokes gained: approach for the year. He also posted a bogey-free 63 to lead after the first round at LIV Golf Hong Kong in March. On the team front, Casey's contributions helped Crushers GC secure second place in the 2025 team championship, underscoring his value in the aggregate scoring system despite individual leaderboard variability. His emphasis on precision irons has been a standout metric, ranking him among the league's top performers in that category annually. Overall, Casey's LIV tenure highlights steady contention without dominance, buoyed by team dynamics and format advantages suited to his methodical style.

Recent developments and ongoing impact

In the 2025 LIV Golf season, Paul Casey achieved several strong finishes, including a tied second place at on June 27, where he scored an even-par 72 in the final round to tie with Jinichiro Kozuma and . He followed with a tied 11th at LIV Golf UK on July 25, a tied fifth at on August 8, and a tied 27th at on August 15. These results contributed to his season-long strokes gained metrics, ranking him 11th in strokes gained approach and total, with a low over-par percentage of 12.6%, placing fifth individually. At the 2025 LIV Golf Team Championship, Casey paired with for Crushers GC but lost in a two-hole playoff to Legion XIII's and , who both birdied the second playoff hole. This outcome highlighted Crushers GC's competitive standing, building on their 2023 team title, though they fell short of defending dominance amid rising parity in . Casey's ongoing impact in underscores his sustained elite performance in the 54-hole, no-cut format, bolstering Crushers GC's team dynamics alongside high-profile teammates like DeChambeau. His consistency in greens in regulation (70.69%, ranking among leaders) and approach play has maintained his relevance, even as LIV's separation from points limits broader tour access. Participation in affiliated events, such as the International Series, extends his visibility beyond core LIV tournaments.

Professional wins

PGA Tour victories

Paul Casey achieved three victories on the during his career. His first win came at the 2009 Shell Houston Open, held April 2–5 at Redstone Golf Club in , where he defeated in a sudden-death playoff on the first extra hole after both finished regulation at 11-under-par 269; Casey parred the playoff hole while Holmes bogeyed. This marked Casey's initial triumph on the tour following multiple close calls, elevating him to sixth in the FedExCup standings. Casey claimed his second victory at the 2018 , contested March 8–11 at Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead Course in , finishing at 12-under-par 268 after a final-round 6-under 65 that held off a late charge from , who missed a birdie putt on the 72nd hole to force a playoff. He repeated as champion at the in 2019, held March 21–24 on the same course, posting a tournament-total 8-under-par 276 to secure a three-stroke margin over and despite windy conditions and a challenging layout. This back-to-back success at the event highlighted Casey's strong performance on the Copperhead Course, where he became the first repeat winner since 2004.
TournamentDateCourseWinning ScoreMargin of Victory
Shell Houston OpenApr 5, 2009Redstone Golf Club269 (-11)Playoff
Mar 11, 2018Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead)268 (-12)1 stroke
Mar 24, 2019Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead)276 (-8)3 strokes

European Tour victories

Paul Casey amassed 15 victories on the DP World Tour, formerly known as the European Tour, spanning from 2001 to 2021. His debut win came early in his professional career at the Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship in 2001, marking his 11th start on the tour. Casey achieved multiple triumphs in key events, including back-to-back Abu Dhabi Golf Championships in 2007 and 2009, and the prestigious in 2009, the tour's flagship tournament held at . His victories reflect consistent performance across diverse courses and formats, with a notable resurgence in later years, including the Porsche European Open in 2019 after a five-year drought and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in 2021 for his 15th title, secured by a four-stroke margin over Brandon Stone. The following table enumerates Tour victories chronologically:
Year
Gleneagles Scottish
2003
2003 International Open
2005TCL Classic
2005 China Open
2006 Championship at Gleneagles
2006HSBC World Match Play Championship
2007
2009
2009
2011 Golf Champions
2013Irish Open
2014KLM Open
2019Porsche European Open
2021

Other professional wins

Casey achieved two victories on the in 2005, both co-sanctioned events held in . In , he won the at Yalong Bay Golf Club by defeating of in a sudden-death playoff after both finished at 22 under par, with Casey carding a final-round 66. In November, he captured the Volvo Open at Beijing CBD International Golf Club, overcoming fellow Englishman in a playoff following a closing 65 that brought him to 13 under par. Additionally, Casey won the invitational HSBC World Match Play Championship in September 2006 at , . He defeated of the 10 and 8 in the 36-hole final, establishing a record margin of victory for the event after never trailing in his last 71 holes of the tournament.

Major championships and elite events

Results in majors

Paul Casey has competed in the four major championships on numerous occasions, accumulating over 70 starts without a victory. His career highlights include a runner-up finish at the , where he posted 11-under-par at before finishing one stroke behind winner , and a tie for third at the at , where he carded 8-under-par and played in the final group. He has recorded 12 top-10 finishes across the majors, demonstrating consistent contention despite challenges such as injuries and form fluctuations. In the , Casey's best result is a tie for fourth in 2016, followed by solo sixth in 2017 and a tie for sixth in 2015. He led after the first round in 2020 with a 7-under-par 65—matching his personal best at Augusta National—but faded to a tie for 38th. Other notable finishes include ties for 11th (2008), 15th (2018), and 20th (2009), with five top-10s overall in 18 appearances. At the U.S. Open, his strongest performance came in 2021 with a tie for seventh. Earlier, he tied for 10th in 2007. Casey has made the cut in 12 of 16 starts, with additional top-20 finishes including ties for 16th (2018), 17th (2020), and 21st (2019), reflecting solid ball-striking on U.S. Open setups but limited closing contention. Casey's record features 19 appearances since his 2002 debut, with a tie for third in 2010 standing out alongside seventh place in 2008 at Royal Birkdale. He has three top-11 finishes, including a tie for 11th in 2017, and recent results such as ties for 15th (2021) and 53rd (2022). In the , across 19 starts, Casey achieved his career-best tie for second in 2020 (-11), followed by a tie for fourth in 2021. Other top-10s include a tie for 10th in 2016. He withdrew prior to the 2023 event at Oak Hill.
MajorAppearancesBest Finish (Year)Top-10 Finishes
Masters18T4 (2016)5
U.S. Open16T7 (2021)2
19T3 (2010)3
19T2 (2020)3

Performances in and

Paul Casey has participated in 14 times between 2005 and 2022, achieving consistent mid-pack or better finishes in most editions prior to his departure from the in 2022. His strongest showings came in 2018, where he tied for fifth at 11-under par, and in 2021, finishing tied for fifth at the same score after rounds of 73-67-67-70. Other notable results include tied for 13th in 2010 and 2019 (both at 9-under), tied for 12th in 2016 (6-under), and tied for 14th in 2013 (5-under). In 2022, Casey endured a controversial ruling on the 16th hole at when his ball plugged in its pitch mark, leading to a double bogey that contributed to a tied for 74th finish after reopening the event due to weather delays.
YearFinishScore to Par
2009T25-5
2010T13-9
2011T37-1
2012T16-5
2013T14-5
2016T12-6
2018T5-11
2019T13-9
2020T24-4
2021T5-11
Casey's record in events spans over a decade, highlighted by his victory in the 2006 WGC-World Match Play Championship, where he defeated 10&8 in the final for a record margin. He reached the final again in 2010 but lost to . Other strong results include tied for fifth in 2009, and multiple tied for ninth finishes in 2005, 2011, 2016, and others. In the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational (now WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational), his best was tied for fifth in 2007. At the , he tied for fifth in 2009. Casey's participation tapered off after 2019 amid injuries and his eventual move to , with no wins but several top-17 finishes across the series demonstrating his elite-level consistency.

Team competitions

Ryder Cup appearances

Paul Casey represented in five s, debuting in 2004 at , where the team secured an 18½–9½ victory over the . He participated again in 2006 at in Ireland, contributing to another European win by 18½–9½; during that event, Casey and partner David Howell defeated and in a match, with Casey's hole-in-one on the 14th hole clinching the point—the only such occurrence in history to decide a match. In 2008 at , lost 16½–11½, marking Casey's third consecutive appearance. Casey returned after a decade-long absence for the 2018 matches at in , helping reclaim the cup with a 17½–10½ triumph, remaining undefeated in three of his four matches that week. His final appearance came in 2021 at , where fell 19–9; Casey went 0–4–0, including losses in two and two singles matches. Across 16 matches in these events, Casey's record stands at 4 wins, 7 losses, and 5 halves, yielding 6.5 points and ranking him 24th all-time in total points among participants. He earned points in three of the five contests, aligning with Europe's successes in , , and , though his overall winning percentage of 40.6% reflects challenges in later outings. Casey's selections highlighted his consistent form on the European Tour and ability to perform in team formats, despite occasional criticisms of his match-play aggression.

Other international team events

Casey represented England in the World Cup of Golf four times, partnering with players including Luke Donald in 2004, when the team secured victory with a total score of 25 under par, defeating South Africa by three strokes. Earlier appearances in 2001, 2002, and 2003 yielded finishes outside the top 10, with the 2003 event seeing England place tied for 13th. In the Seve Trophy, contested between Great Britain and Ireland and Continental Europe, Casey competed for Great Britain and Ireland in five editions: 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2013. His teams prevailed in the first four contests, including a 17½–14½ win in 2002 at Drømling Golf Park and a 15–13 victory in 2013 at Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche Golf Course. Casey's individual match play record across these events included notable pairings, such as with David Lynn in 2013, where they halved a crucial foursomes match to help level the scoreline midway through the competition.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Casey was born on 21 July 1977 in , , to parents Terry Casey, a businessman, and Patricia Casey. He married American Hefner, a distant relative of founder , in 2008; the union lasted three years before ending in divorce in 2011, a period during which Casey cited personal challenges impacting his professional performance. Later in 2011, Casey met British television presenter at a Formula 1 event, both having recently finalized their respective divorces—Woodward from her first husband, presenter Lee Clark. After dating for two years, the couple became engaged during the period of 2013 and married in January 2015. Casey and Woodward have two children: a son, Lex, born on 1 2014, and a , Astaria, born on 11 2017. The family resides in .

Health, coaching, and lifestyle choices

Casey has endured several significant injuries throughout his career, impacting his participation in major tournaments. In 2009, he sustained a injury during , which restricted his subsequent playing schedule. In 2012, a accident resulted in a , necessitating gym-based recovery training. More recently, persistent back problems forced withdrawals from the and U.S. Open, marking the third consecutive major absence due to this issue. In 2023, aggravated toe and knee injuries, compounded by back concerns, led to his withdrawal from the after experimenting with new footwear. For coaching, Casey collaborated with swing coach Peter Kostis for 24 years, beginning around the start of his professional career in 2000. Kostis, known for coaching other professionals like , contributed to Casey's technical development through drills and practice sessions at facilities such as Whisper Rock Golf Club. The partnership ended in October 2024, with Kostis citing personal and private reasons for the split, emphasizing that such teacher-student relationships evolve over time. Casey's lifestyle emphasizes structured fitness and to support longevity in and injury management. He maintains regimented warm-up routines involving drills and exercises prior to rounds, focusing on preparation for optimal performance. serves as a key off-course passion, providing cardiovascular benefits and mental respite from demands, which he describes as his "" and "other life." His weekly routine incorporates sessions, particularly on non-tournament Mondays and Tuesdays, blending on-course practice with physical conditioning to enhance recovery and prevent overuse injuries. This approach aligns with his decision to join in 2022, partly to accommodate a less grueling schedule amid health challenges faced by his team.

References

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