Casey leads by two at Transitions
PALM HARBOR, Fla. - According to Paul Casey, the first round of the Transitions Championship was “lovely.” His score backed him up as he cruised to a bogey-free 7 under par 64 and held a two-stroke lead after the opening 18.
“It’s nice to be back here at a golf course the I really like,” Casey said. “A bit of a ball-striker’s golf course, so I thought it would suit my game.”
Indeed it did. While he hit six of 13 fairways at the narrow Copperhead Course, he got 15 of 18 greens and never threatened to make a bogey.
“Best ball-striking round of the year,” he added. I’m not good at remembering my rounds of golf. I’m going to think I probably played some decent stuff in Bahrain and ground it out very well, but I wasn’t striking it brilliantly. Yeah, this was fun today.”
His reference to Bahrain, though he couldn’t remember specifics, must have been accurate because he won the European Tour’s Volvo Golf Champions there at the end of January. While much has changed in Bahrain, along with much of the Middle East since the time of his victory, Casey’s game has remained solid.
“Certainly long-iron play was good,” Casey said. “I think that’s a key on the par 3s around here. The par 3s are pretty tough.”
Last week’s winner, Nick Watney, had it to seven under, but he gave a couple of shots back on his inward nine (the front-nine) to finish at five under, two shots behind Casey. Garrett Willis, Scott Stallings and Martin Laird shared second with Watney.
Among a group of players three back at minus 4 were Rory Sabbatini, already a winner on the Florida swing, Justin Leonard, Ryan Moore and defending champion Jim Furyk.
Green was highly visible during the first round in recognition of St. Patrick’s Day and Casey had a hunch about that, too.
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