Paul Casey lived up to the growing reputation he has built for himself in his rookie year when he claimed his maiden European Tour title with victory in the £1 million Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship.
The 24 year old Englishman pocketed the 263,034 euro (£166,660) first prize with a closing 69 for a 14 under par total of 274, finishing one shot clear of Germany’s Alex Cejka who posted a 71 for 275 and two ahead of fellow Englishman David Howell who carded a final round 70.
Three players, Christian Cevaer, Gary Evans and Carl Petterson shared fourth on ten under par 278, but the day belonged to Casey. The victory moved him to 26th on the Volvo Order of Merit and he immediately began to look ahead.
“The goal is to get into the top 15 by the end of the year so I still have a lot to play for,” said Casey. “This is only my 11th European Tour event so I still have a long way to go and I hope to be here for a long time – I’m looking at the big plan and that is to play in the best events in the world.
“I am already looking forward to next year and my focus is solely on Europe. I’d like to play a couple of things in America, but the emphasis is still in Europe.”
Starting the day one behind Cejka, the position was reversed when Casey reached the turn in 35 to the German’s 37.
Over a tense inward half, Casey looked to have made victory certain when he found the green at the 543 yard 16th hole with two mighty blows and two putted for a birdie four to move two clear.
But Cejka refused to give up and got back to within a shot when he rolled in a 25 footer for birdie on the 17th. It left Casey only one ahead coming up the last and when the German fired a pitch to within six feet of the flag on the 18th green, the pressure was on the Englishman.
Casey responded magnificently however, sending his own pitch and run to within eight feet before rolling in the uphill birdie putt to ensure victory before Cejka followed him into the hole, the final pairing closing out the tournament in style.
Cejka said: “It was a pretty good performance from me considering primarily I came here looking to gain some confidence for the next couple of big weeks. I wasn’t very solid today but I was pleased that at least I managed to keep it interesting right to the end.”
Third placed Howell continued to struggle on the greens and admitted he felt his chance was slipping away when he covered the front nine in one over par 37 without making a single birdie putt.
There was a glimmer of hope for the winner of the 1999 Dubai Desert Classic when he gained his first birdie of the day at the long 12th before holing his sand wedge approach from 107 yards at the 13th for an unlikely eagle two.
It moved Howell back to within one shot of Casey but when he snap hooked his drive on the 15th on the way to a bogey five, it was one mistake too many.
“It was hard work and I never felt like I was swinging well enough to make a load of birdies,” he said. “I did the best I could but I felt it wasn’t going to be good enough at the end of the day.
“I was close again but in some ways I’m pleased because I don’t feel like I’ve played that great – I know that sounds stupid because it is one of my best results of the year but I wasn’t in control of the ball all week and so to finish third when you’re not in control is pretty good.”
