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Casey gives up Ryder Cup hopes by quitting European Tour

Paul Casey won the KLM Open last year © Getty Images

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Paul Casey has sensationally quit the European Tour and therefore made himself ineligible to play in the Ryder Cup, unless he opts to rejoin his home circuit.

Former world No.3 Casey revealed he had struggled to juggle commitments to both his home tour and the PGA Tour, which he will now play on solely, as well as family commitments after he became a father last year.

"I'm no longer a member of the European Tour, which was a very tough decision," Casey said. "For as long as I've been professional I've been a member of the European Tour.

"For a long, long time now, I've been trying to play both the PGA Tour and the European Tour, and some years I've done it brilliantly, and other years I've failed miserably. I just didn't want to keep putting myself in kind of a position where I'm struggling to fly around the world, play the numbers, keep my world ranking at a certain number.

"Not being in the top 50 is really difficult to play both tours. It was a decision I didn't take lightly, and I stewed over it for a long, long time. I became a father in September, which is by far the greatest thing ever, and that's become really the focus for me, being at home with Pollyanna [Woodward, his wife] and Lex [their son]."

Casey has played in three Ryder Cups and was considered by Europe captain Paul McGinley for wildcard spot for last year's match at Gleneagles. Colin Montgomerie controversially opted against picking Casey for the 2010 edition at Celtic Manor and he missed the "Miracle of Medinah" in 2012 through injury.

The 37-year-old, who won 13 titles in his 13 years as a member of the European Tour, shot 62 in the opening round for a share of the lead at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Having dropped to 78th in the world standings, the Brit now wants to focus on breaking back into the top 50, which would earn him automatic entry into the four majors.

He added: "I've never played a full season in the US, so I'm absolutely over the moon. I can spend a little bit more time at home, come to great places like Hawaii [at the Sony Open] and give it all I've got."

Webb Simpson also shot a 62 in Honolulu to lead the field with Casey at eight-under-par. Camilo Villegas and Robert Streb are a further shot back at seven-under, while Matt Kuchar and Jason Day are three shots off the pace.

Elsewhere, Francisco Molinari opened with a three-under round of 67 and Luke Donald and KJ Choi are both in the mix following their two-under rounds of 68.

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