World number six Paul Casey will defend his Shell Houston Open title this week but inevitably has more than half an eye on The Masters.
Els and Mickelson also in action in Texas
World number six Paul Casey will defend his Shell Houston Open title this week but inevitably has more than half an eye on The Masters.
Casey, 32, has returned to Humble, Texas, where 12 months ago he claimed his maiden victory on the PGA Tour.
And the man from Weybridge feels he can become the first English Masters winner since Nick Faldo in 1996, and the first European since Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain three years later.
"I'm older, greyer and yeah, I feel like the next eight, 10 years, that's my big opportunity and, you know, it's been 1996 since the last time an Englishman won a major; 99 was the last time a European, Olazabal, the Masters," said Casey.
"I feel ready, yeah. I think there have been certain things in the past which were maybe weaknesses in the game... in the past maybe something like simple, like it's not simple but like an acceptance of everything that will go with becoming a major champion and sometimes something like that seems fairly trivial but that will hold you back as a player, if you're not ready for that.
"I feel ready for that. So, to me, now the next eight, 10 years, I've got to capitalise on that because it's my opportunity now."
Casey will go into next week's Masters with a good track record around Augusta National. Sixth in 2004, he missed the cut in 2005 and was not in the field the following year but he has since recorded a 10th, 11th and, last year, 20th, in the wake of his Houston victory.
The Englishman admitted his win at Redstone last year had an effect on his performance in the Masters the following week, but he hopes he is better prepared if he can again head for Augusta on the back of a win.
"I'd love to win this week but I will admit that I think it took a little bit of steam out of me for the following week last year," Casey added.
Rain delays
"This tournament was a long tournament last year with the rain delays that we had and I think physically and emotionally it took a little bit out of me.
"If you don't have everything in place going into a Major then you're going to be found out and I think that showed where I finished in the field at Augusta the following week.
"I think if you look at results after winning tournaments in Europe, I have struggled slightly the following week...winning in Abu Dhabi and missing the cut a couple times in Qatar.
"(Casey's coach) Peter Kostis said to me, 'You know, you're going to defend but you realise that I want you to be very much ready for Augusta'.
"I said, 'That's fine, but I'd love to be in the same position'.
Fresher
"I'd love to have a win under the belt and be teeing it up next week. If that's the case, hopefully I deal with it a little bit better and stay a little bit fresher."
Casey leads a strong European contingent in Texas on a course set up to help golfers prepare for the Masters.
Fellow Englishmen Justin Rose, Chris Wood and Lee Westwood will tee off on Thursday at Redstone Golf Club, as will Ireland's Padraig Harrington, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Germany's Martyn Kaymer as well as exiled PGA Tour regulars Martin Laird of Scotland and English duo Greg Owen and Luke Donald.
Two-time Masters champion and world number three Phil Mickelson and world number six Ernie Els, who won Bay Hill last Sunday for his second win in as many starts, are also in action in Texas this week.
