Ryder Cup

Paul Casey still dreams of Ryder Cup place

ESPN staff

March 4, 2015

Harrington wins Honda Classic

Paul Casey has not given up hope of playing in the Ryder Cup next year - despite controversially ending his membership of the European Tour in a bid to focus solely on the PGA circuit.

Casey, who has returned to the world's top 50 since finishing third at the Honda Classic in Florida this week, looked to have ruled himself out of competing next year against the United States at Hazeltine, but insisted he is still dreaming of playing in one of golf's biggest events.

"I totally understand the headlines when I quit the European Tour, how I turned my back on my home tour and how I'd give up on the Ryder Cup," he said.

"If I was an outsider looking in, that's what I would have thought too, but the truth is I haven't given up on the Ryder Cup, anything but. My dream is to play in another one, another few or more, but I just haven't figured how to yet.

"My energy has all been focused on the PGA tour and playing well and getting back into the top 50 as that's where I'll be most use to Europe."

Casey racked up 13 wins on the European Tour before quitting it, but he is likely to have to rejoin and play a minimum of 13 events to participate in the Ryder Cup.

"I dwelled on that decision for a long time," said Casey. "I played it in my mind over and over. I'd been a member for so long, have been on the players' committee and everything, and it was a horrid choice.

"Having said that, there are some changes going on and they needed change. Hopefully they are now going in the right direction.

"The rules state I'll have to rejoin the European Tour and play my minimum, but I can assure you that's far easier to do [if you are ranked in the world's top 50].

"Get in the top 50, play the four majors, the four WGC events and you're roughly two thirds of the way there. I did it for years and years and it was straightforward. There was clarity, you knew what you were doing.

"There's so many points around, life was good, but once you are outside the top 50, life becomes comparatively difficult. I came over here trying to get back in it and now I am back in it, after really only a few months."