Paul Casey’’s superb month of May on The European Tour International Schedule has been recognised by the announcement of the 25 year old Englishman as the Asprey Golfer of the Month.
Casey captured the 33rd and last Benson and Hedges International Open at The De Vere Belfry with rounds of 71-69-66-71 for an 11 under par total of 277. It was his third title since turning professional in 2000 and his second of the 2003 season, and came one week after he finished tied fifth in the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open TPC of Europe and one week before he shared ninth place in the Volvo PGA Championship.
The Volvo PGA Championship title went to Spain’’s Ignacio Garrido, who was also a strong contender for the May Award, which only went to Casey after a lively debate by a panel from the Association of Golf Writers, television and radio.
Others considered were Mathias Grönberg of Sweden, winner of the 60th Italian Open Telecom Italia, Ireland’’s Padraig Harrington, who captured the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open TPC of Europe, Ian Poulter of England, champion at The Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open and Vijay Singh, of Fiji, who won the EDS Byron Nelson Championship on the US PGA Tour.
The season to date has been deeply rewarding for Casey, whose last over-par round on The European Tour International Schedule came back in February in the third round of the Heineken Classic in Australia, just prior to his victory under the modified stableford format in the ANZ Championship in Sydney.
Since shooting that 74 at Royal Melbourne, Casey has embarked on a truly exceptional run, completing 21 stroke play rounds in a total of 72 under par. Twenty of those rounds were under par and 11 of them in the sixties. Casey’’s scoring average during that productive spell is 68.57. From ten starts in 2003, he has been in the top ten seven times.
Other winners of the Asprey Golfer of the Month Awards for 2003 are: Ernie Els (January and February), Robert-Jan Derksen (March) and Fredrik Jacobson (April). The award is presented to a European Tour Member each month from January to November for his performances on The European Tour International Schedule and in worldwide competition. At the end of the season, the Panel will select the Asprey Golfer of the Year.
