Paul Casey

Paul Casey: Experienced pro with a balanced approach to golf – and life

Few in professional golf have more respect for the game than Paul Casey, who not only is one of the world’s most accomplished players but also balances life with a healthy approach.

It’s been more than two decades since the Englishman turned pro. In that time, he has reached the highest levels of the game – winning 21 times in 13 different countries – while becoming one of the sport’s most popular players.

Casey says he enjoys focusing on the little victories that come from preparing, as well as embracing any challenges golf – and life – throw his way. It allows him to enjoy his life and family that much more.

Those insights have helped him think deeply about the game and appreciate the experience of being part of the LIV Golf community.

Outstanding amateur career lays foundations for life as a golf pro

Casey was born in 1977 in Cheltenham, England, but moved to the outskirts of London when he was 6. By the time he was 11, he was a skilled golfer who received a golf scholarship from the Foxhills Golf Club.

Later, he was offered a collegiate golf scholarship at Arizona State University, where he compiled an impressive record in the amateur and college game. Casey won three consecutive PAC-12 Championships between 1998-2000, and in that final year he broke the scoring record for the event, which previously had been held by Tiger Woods.

He also won the English Amateur title in 1999 and 2000 and won all four of his matches for the victorious Great Britain & Ireland team at the Walker Cup in 1999. It was clear for all to see that he had the game and temperament to make it as a pro.

Early professional success and promising first attempt at the Masters 

Casey made an immediate impact in 2001 – his first year on the European Tour – after turning pro the year before. In just his 11th event at the Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship, he recorded his first professional win.

At the end of the year, he was 22nd on the Order of Merit and won the prestigious Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award. Further success followed in 2003, with victories in the ANZ Championship and the Benson & Hedges International Open.

In 2004, he recorded his first top-10 finish at a major with a strong bid for glory at the Masters, eventually tying for sixth.

A big win – and a chance at The Open

Over the next few years, Paul Casey established himself as one of the leading players on both sides of the Atlantic. He was named European Tour Golfer of the Year in 2006.

In the same year, he won the World Match Play Championship, beating Shaun Micheel in the final match by the record margin of 10 & 8. By 2009, he was a member of the PGA Tour and recorded his first victory at the Houston Open.

That was the year in which he reached a career-high No. 3 ranking in the OWGR, and in 2010, he played in the final group of The Open Championship at St Andrews, finishing in a tie for third.

Match play wizard with a formidable Ryder Cup record

His triumph in the World Match Play Championship was an example of Casey’s excellence in the head-to-head format. Even more compelling is the contribution he made to three victorious European Ryder Cup teams in his five appearances in the biennial showdown.

He was part of the winning team in 2004, and two years later he made a remarkable hole-in-one at the 14th hole of a foursomes match at The K Club in Ireland, helping the Europeans prevail again.

In 2018 he was selected for the European side that wrestled the trophy back from the U.S. with an emphatic win in France.

Casey joins LIV Golf and Crushers GC in 2022

The affection Paul Casey holds for team golf – and for events where the crowd is encouraged to play a part – contributed to his decision to accept an invitation to join LIV Golf in 2022. 

“Golf without a crowd is a hollow version of the game,” Casey once said. “It’s entertainment after all. And my golf is also better with the fans. I thrive on pressure and adrenaline.”

Casey joined a Crushers GC team captained by Bryson DeChambeau that finished in the top two in the regular-season team standings in each of the first three years. The Crushers, which also feature Anirban Lahiri and Charles Howell III, won the Team Championship in 2023.

“It’s a strange mix,” Casey said about his team. “Two Americans, an Indian and an Englishman – on paper, there’s no way these four guys should get along but there’s great energy in the team. We love Bryson – he is a unique individual – and I mean that in the nicest respect. He’s got such a great heart that we get to see.”

Casey clearly enjoys the whole vibe around LIV Golf. “It’s been amazing,” he said. “The people involved, the competition, the energy, it’s like a breath of fresh air. And the competition is harder than anybody could imagine. It’s a joy to be a part of it.”