Paul Casey lands milestone 15th European Tour win at Dubai Desert Classic
Casey lands dominant four-stroke victory in Dubai to move back inside the world's top 20...
Paul Casey landed his 15th career European Tour title with a dominant four-stroke victory at the Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club.
Casey, 43, carded a final-round 2-under 70 to finish 17-under par and four strokes clear of South Africa's Brandon Stone. Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, who started the day one back of Casey, slumped to a disappointing 74 to finish solo third on 12-under par.
Win number 15 on the European Tour @Paul_Casey | #ODDC pic.twitter.com/w0MSRNqBXr
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 31, 2021
"I've worked so hard, I'm so happy."
An emotional @Paul_Casey reflects on his win...#ODDC pic.twitter.com/ITBu6d2irx— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 31, 2021
Casey's victory now takes him past Rory McIlroy in the all-time list of European Tour wins, and he now matches past and present European Ryder Cup captains Thomas Bjorn and Padraig Harrington for career European Tour wins.
"It's very, very special," said an emotional Casey, who rounds up a 350th European Tour win for English golfers.
"It's an unbelievable roster (of winners). That's so cool, I've worked so hard. I feel like I've regained my youth, I mean that sincerely."
Casey will now move back inside the world's top 20 on Monday, and he will also give himself a huge chance of now going on to make a fifth European Ryder Cup appearance this September at Whistling Straits.
The Englishman was also quick to praise his caddie John McLaren, also known as Johnny Long Socks.
"I have the biggest respect for that guy," he said. "He is my mate more than he is my caddie."
DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC FINAL LEADERBOARD
-17 P Casey
-13 B Stone
-12 R MacIntyre
-10 L Canter, K Samooja
-9 S Garcia, P Harrington, B Wiesberger