GOLF US TOUR:PAUL CASEY has put himself in position in Chicago to make his exclusion from the Ryder Cup look a huge mistake by Colin Montgomerie.
Casey, overlooked for a wild card despite being the world number nine, yesterday repeated his opening 69 at the BMW Championship in Chicago – third event of the FedEx Cup play-offs – to be in joint second place only two behind early clubhouse leader Charlie Wi.
The 33-year-old, joined on four under par by fellow Englishman Ian Poulter, has not shot higher than 72 in the past month and describes himself as “in a good place right now”. That was not the case two weeks ago when he realised he had not been picked by Montgomerie while playing with Padraig Harrington, who had been.
“It’s done and dusted. You’ve got to get over things pretty quickly. I got over it pretty quickly.
“I’ve had a lot of conversations, even the guys who have been picked by Corey (Pavin, USA captain) and the guys who automatically qualified. I don’t really want to sort of share what people’s views are. I don’t think that’s right.”
Casey has also spoken with European Tour chief executive George O’Grady and says he has been “relaying messages” with Montgomerie.
“Monty is a friend. He was in a very difficult position.”
Europe’s captain had to leave out at least one of Casey, Harrington, Luke Donald and Justin Rose after they all decided to stay in America rather than return for the climax to the qualifying race.
In the end he left out Casey and Rose to make room for in-form Italian Edoardo Molinari, who won the last counting event.
“I think with guys like Kaymer, McDowell and possibly others in the near future joining the PGA Tour, what are we going to do?” asked Casey. “I understand the European Tour wants to protect the European Tour, but we also want to get the best team possible. I don’t know what the solution is. I don’t get anything by being vocal on the subject, nor reading a lot of the stuff. I did pick up some stuff about not supporting the Tour and I know the facts.
“I know how many I played in Europe compared to guys who were picked, so I’m not even going to get into that.”
Casey and Poulter, who would have shared the lead but for two late bogeys in his 72, moved into second spot when overnight leader Matt Kuchar, still suffering from flu-like symptoms, bogeyed four of his first six holes to crash from seven under to three under.
Donald and Rose were alongside him in sixth spot after nine holes, meaning that four English players were in the top 10.
Scot Martin Laird, who lost in sudden death to Kuchar in the first of the play-off events, had fallen back to 46th place, however, and on the same three over mark was Tiger Woods after he followed an opening 73 with a 72.
Rory McIlroy was down in 66th spot in the 70-strong field after rounds of 76 and 74.
Korean Wi was the surprise leader of what is proving a surprising series – world number 132 Charley Hoffman won the second leg on Monday – following a 69.
