Paul Casey: 15 wins and counting

Paul Casey hit a milestone on Sunday as he claimed the 15th European Tour title of his career at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

The Englishman, who earned his first victory twenty years ago at the Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship, put on a convincing display on his way to becoming the 18th player to win 15 times on the European Tour.

His latest accolade sees him join a prestigious list of champions, and puts him level on wins with both the former and current Ryder Cup Captains Thomas Bjørn and Padraig Harrington.

Describing his newest achievement, the 43-year-old was emotional about reaching his 15th victory at an event with such a prolific history.

"15 wins is pretty cool," said Casey. "I wanted 15. The Porsche European Tour victory in 2019 is the last, and this is 15 and this is an iconic event, so I'm so happy.

"I'm all emotional with wins, but with this one, you said it: This one is such a prestigious event, the history which is behind you, and I can see it from here with amazing winners, is basically a Who's Who in world golf. Dubai have given so much to golf, European Tour golf in general and across the globe."

Here, we recap Casey's 15 victories on the European Tour.

15.Omega Dubai Desert Classic (2021)

Casey made the most of his first return to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in seven years by closing out a four-stroke victory at Emirates Golf Club.

Having entered the final day with a one-shot lead over playing partner Robert MacIntyre, the Englishman stayed calm while others faltered, and a level par 35 front nine was enough for him gain a three shot advantage over the field.

With five holes to play Casey had extended that gap to five strokes, and although his lead was trimmed over the closing holes, the 43-year-old never looked in any real danger as he ultimately signed for a final round 70 and a four shot victory over Brandon Stone.

In addition to claiming his 15th career victory on the European Tour, Casey's win will also move him back inside the top 20 in the Official World Golf Rankings.

14. Porsche European Open (2019)

Casey secured his first European Tour title in five years after coming out on top in a thrilling finale over Green Eagle Golf Courses at the Porsche European Open in 2019.

Casey had started the final day one shot behind overnight leaders Robert MacIntyre and Bernd Ritthammer, but a front nine 31 put him firmly into contention, and by the 13th he had moved into a share of the lead for the first time. He was soon joined at the top by Bernd Wiesberger and both MacIntyre and Ritthammer, but a lengthy birdie putt at the 16th proved to be the turning point with just three holes to go.

He would finish birdie-par to set the clubhouse target, and both MacIntyre and Ritthammer missed their chances to force a play-off at the last, leaving Casey to become the third successive Englishman to win the event after Jordan Smith and Richard McEvoy.

13. KLM Open (2014)

Casey's 13th victory on the European Tour was the product of a remarkable weekend comeback that included a course record 62 on Saturday and a final round 66.

The Englishman was eight strokes adrift at the halfway stage and made the cut by two shots, but matched the course record with a 62 on Saturday and was imperious again on Sunday as his 14 under par total saw him run out a one shot win over Simon Dyson at Kennemer Golf & Country Club.

Four behind leader Romain Wattel overnight, Casey raced to the turn in 32 to capture a one shot lead and was never caught on the way in, completing an emotional fortnight that had included the birth of his daughter.

12.Irish Open (2013)

Casey's win at the Irish Open marked a return to form in sensational style with a brilliant closing round in tough conditions at Carton House to win the 2013 Irish Open.

Casey, who had started the day four behind Joost Luiten, reeled off seven consecutive pars at the start of his round before five birdies in six holes led him to a three shot lead.

Mistakes at both 15 and 16 reduced that advantage to just one with two to play, but the then 35-year-old signed off with a spectacular 45 foot eagle putt to secure a 12th European Tour title by three shots.

11.Volvo Golf Champions (2011)

Casey came through what he called "one of the toughest battles I've ever had" to end 20 months without success during his 2011 Volvo Golf Champions win on the Colin Montgomerie-designed Royal Golf Club course in Bahrain.

After an amazing 23 changes at the top of the leaderboard on the final day, Casey came to the 429 yard 18th hole level with Swede Peter Hanson. In the end, a six foot par putt for a closing 68 was enough for him to clinch victory over Hanson, who had failed to get up and down from the sand for par.

10.BMW PGA Championship (2009)

Casey's 10th European Tour win came during the 2009 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club, where he edged out compatriot Ross Fisher by a single stroke.

His victory, which moved him to World Number Three at the time, was owed to his brilliant performance over the back nine: He birdied all three of the par-fives, which included an up-and-down from the bunker at the last to secure a win at the Tour's flagship event.

9. Abu Dhabi Golf Championship (2009)

Marking the second of two wins in Abu Dhabi, Casey's 2009 victory saw him survive a late scare during his one shot triumph over Louis Oosthuizen and Martin Kaymer.

Casey had led by six shots at the turn but struggled on the greens over the back nine, while Oosthuizen set the target with a closing 64 and Kaymer eagled the last to sit just one behind. But Casey held his nerve, two-putting from 12 feet at the 18th for a two under par 70 and a tournament record scoring total of 21 under (267).

8.Abu Dhabi Golf Championship (2007)

When Casey won his first victory in Abu Dhabi, he described his closing 65 at the time as his best final round performance of his career.

He came out on top of a front-nine battle with Padraig Harrington thanks to five birdies in his first eight holes, and quickly extended his lead further with back-to-back gains on 10 and 11.

But while Harrington faltered, both Miguel Angel Jiménez and Peter Hanson moved into contention, leaving Casey's timely birdie at the 17th important in helping to secure a one stroke victory on 17 under - even with a three-putt for bogey at the last.

7.HSBC World Matchplay Championship (2006)

Casey wrote a record-breaking chapter in the history books of the HSBC World Match Play Championship when he produced the biggest victory in 43 finals, defeating Shaun Micheel (who had beaten Tiger Woods on the first day) by a 10 and 8 margin over the West Course at Wentworth Club.

Playing the final over 36 holes, Casey started the first 18 with a flurry of birdies and ensured he would enter the afternoon session 3UP over Micheel with a late birdie on the 17th.

The 37 year old American was left with too much to do as 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. He then sealed the title with another birdie at the tenth for the seventh win of his European Tour career.

6.Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles (2006) 

For a second time, Casey bested a multiple European Tour winner around Gleneagles on his way to lifting a trophy at the Johnnie Walker Championship in 2006.

A sensational start to his round saw Casey begin with three birdies in a row to all but halt his challengers, and he remained ahead for the rest of the day. His playing partner Colin Montgomerie's challenge effectively ended with dropped shots at the 15th and 17th, and despite a one over par back nine, Casey's final round 72 was enough to beat both Peter Hansen and Andrew Marshall by a shot.

5.Volvo China Open (2005)

Casey's victory at the Volvo China Open was just his second - and most recent - play-off win of his European Tour career.

He headed to the event as the pre-tournament favourite, but a rocky start left him six strokes behind heading in to the final day. Undeterred, Casey barely put a foot wrong on the final day, closing out a seven under par 65 to earn his way into a play-off with Oliver Wilson.

Casey triumphed with a birdie on the pairs first trip back up the long 18th, while Wilson could muster only a bogey six after finding two bunkers on the way to the green.

4. TCL Classic (2005)

Casey's fourth European Tour title was the result of a sudden-death play-off against Paul McGinley to win the TCL Classic at the Yalong Bay Golf Club, Sanya, Hainan Island.

Casey had a putt from 15 feet to win outright on the 72nd green but left the effort agonisingly short and had to settle for a closing 66, tying McGinely on 22 under par.

On their first trip up the 449 yard 18th Casey once again missed an attempt from similar range, this time 12 feet, but rectified that with an impressive 25 foot birdie putt on the second play-off hole to take the title.

3. Benson & Hedges International Open (2003)

Casey ensured that an Englishman claimed the first and last Benson and Hedges International Open when he emulated Tony Jacklin in 1971 by capturing the 2003 at The De Vere Belfry.

Casey, who shared the third round lead with Padraig Harrington and New Zealand’s Stephen Scahill, battled well on chilly afternoon in the West Midlands for a closing round of 71 - which was enough to best Harrington by four shots.

2. ANZ Championship (2003)

Casey's second European Tour triumph, at the 2003 ANZ Championship, saw him win by 4 points in the modified stableford format at New South Wales Golf Club, Sydney.

Racing ahead after a second round 63 (which translated into a staggering 21 points), Casey finished his week with five birdies and four bogeys on Sunday (6 points), to end the tournament with 45 points - enough for a four point victory over Stuart Appelby and Nick O'Hern.

1.Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship (2001)

At the age of 24, Casey broke through for his maiden victory at the 2001 Gleneagle Scottish PGA Championship with a one stroke victory over Germany's Alex Čejka.

Having started the final day one behind Čejka, Casey's one under front nine gave him a narrow advantage, but it was an intense battle over the closing stretch.

Casey looked to have victory in his clutches when he birdied the par five 16th hole, but Cjeka responded with a birdie of his own a hole later to pull within one before pitching his third to six feet at 18. Casey responded to the challenge with his own pitch to eight feet, and matching birdies gave the young Englishman his first title on the European Tour.

Who has the most career wins on the European Tour?