Spirited Casey sets pace

Paul Casey: Five under

14 April 2012

Paul Casey stormed into a share of the clubhouse lead at the 133rd Open today with a brilliant round of 66.

Just a day after Casey sparked a major controversy with his attack on the drinking culture of fellow Brits, a spirited round from the 26-year-old set a firstround target of five under par in company with Frenchman Thomas Levet.

The brilliant British prospect, who served notice of his potential with sixth place at the Masters in April, took route 66 to the top of the leaderboard and then took another sideswipe at one of his British peers.

The Surrey golfer complained this week that some of them were suffering from a "George Best syndrome" and that they "maybe piss it away a little bit".

Casey didn't identify the targets for his caustic observation. But there was little doubt about who he was referring to today because, out on the course, you could hardly miss Ian Poulter resplendent in a pair of slacks that seemed to have been fashioned from a red, white and blue Union flag.

Wearing a more conservative ensemble of dark chinos and white polo shirt, Casey said today after his fine round: "I enjoy playing spectacular golf, I'm not going to wear spectacular clothing."

In fact, the most spectacular shot on a day of drama that began with the withdrawal of troubled former champion David Duval was the hole in one scored at Troon's eighth by Ernie Els.

The 123-yard par three, officially named the Postage Stamp but nicknamed the "wee beastie" by local club players, is the shortest hole in Open golf but it is also regarded as one of the toughest.

Yet South African Els tamed it with a wedge off the tee that sent his ball bouncing three times slightly down the left side of the tiny green before carefully crafted spin cut in with the fourth bounce and it plopped into the cup off the flagstick.

The Postage Stamp has been licked before, golf great Gene Sarazen famously acing the hole at the age of 71 during his farewell Open appearance in 1973.

But a triple bogey six there probably cost Tiger Woods the Open title in 1997.

Woods was in early trouble again today, finding light rough with his long iron tee shot off the first.

But at least he was safe, unlike at the first hole last year at Royal St George's where the world No1 succumbed to every hacker's nightmare - a lost ball.

Woods, seeking his second Open championship but his first major title in nine attempts, saved his par and served notice of his intention to meet Casey's challenge by sinking a monster putt at the second for a birdie three.

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Spirited Casey sets pace

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