Englishman is back in contention and following the example set by carefree younger players as he prepares for the US Open and another tilt at a first major win
Who wants to smile their way to second place? Paul Casey, as it transpires. “Why has it taken me 20 years to figure that out?” asks the Englishman, when he recalls his visibly upbeat demeanour during the closing round of last month’s US PGA Championship. Casey shot four under par on that Sunday at Harding Park but could not keep pace with Collin Morikawa, who marched towards major glory. Morikawa graduated from college in 2019.
“I’m very rarely envious of other players,” Casey says. “You can’t go down that road, but when I see guys who have figured out how to play their best golf, someone who is nonchalant and carefree at 21, 22, 23 … When I came on Tour I was trying so damn hard. Now I cruise around. How much I want it hasn’t changed but I was totally chilled out at Harding Park.
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