Casey: Out of the points
Paul Casey knows he needs to continue his form revival at this week's USPGA if he is to enjoy another Ryder Cup experience next month.
The Englishman has been a part of the winning European teams in 2004 and 2006 and is eyeing a third successive appearance in Valhalla in September.
But the 31-year-old is well down the points lists following a stop-start season and although a tied-eighth finish in Akron at the weekend is a step in the right direction, Casey knows a big week at Oakland Hills will catapault him into contention.
"I'm well out of the points," Casey said on Sunday. "There are many good players outside of qualification right now and I'm below those guys.
"This week is a good start, but I really need to throw in a couple of top fives or a win or something like that to get myself on that team.
Winning the goal
"It is an important run, but I've got to take it one round at a time, one shot at a time.
"The ultimate goal is to try and win next week. I mean, the majors are still the ultimate thing, but I'd love to be part of that Ryder Cup team.
"Right now those are probably the greatest memories I've ever had while being on a golf course, and I'd like to be part of another team, and I've got some playing to do for that team before we get there."
Meanwhile, Lee Westwood is another Ryder Cup player looking forward to a big week at Oakland Hills, Detroit, where the Europeans beat the United States so emphatically in '04.
Westwood is up to 12th in the world rankings after finishing joint second in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and enters the final Major event of the season in the best possible frame of mind.
"When I get into contention and play in the last group, I feel very comfortable out there now," he said. "I've got a routine I'm going through, and nothing phases me too much.
"I hit some nice shots under pressure over the last few holes. My distance control and my irons were good and I thought I handled the pressure pretty good.
"I know it's not easy to finish off around this golf course because a lot can happen on the back nine. They're not easy holes."
