Casey takes early lead

Paul Casey's bid to become £1million richer and go top of the European Order of Merit for the first time in his life began well at Wentworth today.

Facing American Shaun Micheel in the 36-hole final of the HSBC World Match Play Championship Casey went ahead with a two-putt birdie at the long fourth.

The 29-year-old, also trying to be the first debutant to win since Ernie Els in 1994, had already beaten major winners Retief Goosen and Mike Weir and Ryder Cup team-mate Colin Montgomerie without needing to play the final three holes.

Micheel, though, knocked out world number one Tiger Woods in the first round and was looking for his third victory over a member of Europe's team at the K Club this week. Luke Donald and Robert Karlsson had fallen to him in the last eight and semi-finals.

The first prize is the biggest in golf - and the runner-up walks away with £400,000.

Micheel holed from 20 feet at the sixth, but Casey followed him in from 14 feet for a half in birdie threes and on the next green went two-up with a 25-footer.

Micheel pitched to five feet on the eighth, but Casey's putter was red-hot and a 15-footer meant a second hole had been shared in birdies.

The Surrey golfer, who could also move into the world's top 20 for the first time by winning, turned in a four under 31 to his opponent's 33.

Casey made his first mistake on the 11th, driving into sand and hitting the lip with his next shot, but Micheel made a mess of the long 12th and went two down again.

His drive went into the trees on the right, his third landed in the ditch and although he then nearly chipped in Casey was in a greenside bunker for two and did not even need to get up and down to take the hole.