Paul Casey of England wrote another record-breaking chapter in the long and illustrious history of the HSBC World Match Play Championship at sun-drenched Wentworth Club when he produced the biggest victory in 43 finals, defeating a battle-weary Shaun Micheel of the United States by a whopping 10 and 8 margin over the West Course.
The 29 year old, who lives not far from Wentworth Estate in nearby Weybridge, underlined his outstanding form ahead of The Ryder Cup by winning the £1,000,000 first prize and dislodging fellow Englishman David Howell at the top of The European Tour Order of Merit.
In the process, he surpassed the victory achieved by another eminent English golfer, Nick Faldo, who beat American Jeff Sluman 8 and 7 back in 1992.
Casey joined an elite group of debut winners of the championship including Ernie Els (1994), Greg Norman (1980), Bill Rogers (1979), Isao Aoki (1978), Hale Irwin (1974) and Tom Weiskopf (1972). By playing only 28 holes in the one-sided final, Casey also collected another record – the least number of holes played in four rounds by a winner with 124 against the 128 by Ian Woosnam in 2001.
"This means a lot to me” declared the emotionaI champion as he recognised numerous friends and relatives in the sea of faces surrounding the tenth green, where the contest finished.
“I really wanted to win this. I am proud of the way I stayed focused all week. Shaun did some of the tough work for me after bashing the World Number One (Tiger Woods) on the first day."
Casey, winner of the TCL Classic in China and the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles earlier this season, seized the early initiative with four birdies in a five hole burst. He reached the green in two at the long fourth and took two putts from 20 feet to register the opening birdie of the day.
Both players birdied the sixth, Casey holing from 14 feet while his opponent rolled in a good effort from 20 feet. Casey continued to show his putter was in excellent working order, sinking a 27 footer at the seventh and a 15 footer at the next as he reached the turn in 31, four under, against Micheel's 33.
The golf was less spectacular on the back nine, Casey recording three bogeys while Micheel bogeyed the 12th and double-bogeyed the 16th. Casey went three up for the first time with a birdie four at the 17th.
Both players birdied the par five 18th, Casey completing a round of 69 against Micheel's 71.
The 37 year old American had a mountain to climb when Casey launched the afternoon round with another rush of five birdies, holing out from 15, 12, four, five and six feet to replicate his morning effort of 31 strokes on the outward half.
Casey then sealed the title with another birdie at the tenth, clinching the most emphatic final victory.
"I have been working very hard and I didn't think I had reached this level yet," said Casey, who joked afterwards that his £1 million cheque could just about buy “a two bedroom flat Weybridge.”
He added: "I'm not a Major Champion yet but I'm working hard on it and it is just wonderful to put my name on the roll of honour here which includes a lot of great champions."
Micheel was generous in his praise of Casey, whose victory elevated him to the top of the Order of Merit with €2,256,193 (£1,534,585), with Howell relegated – at least temporarily – to second place with €2,089,486 (£1,421,197) and this week’s losing semi-finalist, Robert Karlsson of Sweden, in third place.
"He played great and hit a lot of really close iron shots," said the American. "It just wasn't meant to be for me. It was a frustrating day. I didn't play well but my hat comes off to him.”
However, Micheel took plenty of positives from his week. "My expectations were not that high at the start of the week, especially looking at the strength of the field," said the World Number 77.
"But I have played really well and I am not going to let today ruin it for me. Even today I hit the ball really solidly.There were a lot of great champions in the field and it is always good to beat the World Number One. It was exciting and I gained a lot of confidence from that. I just didn't carry it over until Sunday."
"It is disheartening when you make it this far and don't win. Maybe it's fatigue, I don't know. I threw away a couple of shots early on. It was a frustrating day for me. I didn't play well."
