Rose :: ‘Casey’s Ryder Cup snub left a scar’

• Paul Casey won’t rejoin European Tour – out of Ryder Cup
• Justin Rose says Casey’s snub by Monty in 2010 ‘left a scar’
• Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke called decision ‘disappointing’

Justin Rose has said it’s ‘disappointing’ that Paul Casey has chosen to not to rejoin the European Tour and believes being snubbed by Colin Montgomerie for the 2010 Ryder Cup has ‘left a scar’.

Casey, like Rose, was overlooked by Montgomerie for the team at Celtic Manor, despite being ranked world No.8 at the time and having been involved in the three previous Ryder Cup matches.

And after an excellent 2015 season, which has seen him rise from No.75 in the world to No.25, the 38-year-old released a statement declaring his intentions to focus solely on the PGA Tour.

“I believe this decision will help me to be the best I can be” – Paul Casey

“With my wife and young son as my priority, I have decided to continue to concentrate on the PGA Tour, which has worked well for us this past year,” said Casey. “I believe this decision will help me to be the best I can be both on and off the course.”

Upon hearing Casey’s announcement, world No.5 Rose believes his fellow Englishman will be a huge loss to the team at Hazeltine next September and thinks the furore surrounding his omission in 2010 had a part to play in his decision-making.

CONTINUES BELOW…

“I think five tournaments, you can find those if you’re willing for sure,” said Rose, who was also left out by Montgomerie in favour of Edoardo Molinari, Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington five years ago. “It’s obviously a commitment to play those five. I think Ryder Cup is probably a big enough carrot where it warrants that, and he’s a player that’s going to be missed on the team. Yeah, it’s disappointing.”

“Yeah, I would think he would be a lock on the team. He’s a very, very good player and a great matchplay player and I can only see him improving his world ranking. He’s playing very solid golf and I expect Paul to have a big year next year.

“It could be another situation where he’s in the top ten in the world and not playing the Ryder Cup like he was last time, and I think obviously when Monty didn’t pick him in 2010, that’s left a bit of a scar and maybe from that point of view, when you put so much into the Ryder Cup and feel like you should be on the team and you get let down like that, maybe that’s harbouring some of his decision making to this day.”

CONTINUES BELOW…

Upcoming Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke, who played alongside Casey at Oakland Hills in 2004 and the K Club in 2006, also had his say on the Casey’s decision.

“It is obvious that representing Europe in the Ryder Cup is not on Paul’s priority list, which is disappointing, but I wish him all the best for the future,” said Clarke. “The focus is firmly on the players who are committed to the European cause as we move towards Hazeltine and I look forward to working with these players over the next ten months.”

Paul Casey :: Ryder Cup snub

What do you make of Paul Casey’s decision to turn his back on the Ryder Cup? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.