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Dominant Kaymer has shades of Tiger - Casey

Paul Casey believes Martin Kaymer is golf's dominant force © Getty Images

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Paul Casey believes Martin Kaymer is currently the golfer to beat in the world game, admitting the German shares similarities with Tiger Woods in the manner of his victories.

Kaymer tore the field apart on the way to a wire-to-wire victory in Abu Dhabi in January, after winning the first major title of his career at the USPGA at Whistling Straits in 2010. And Casey - who grabbed his own European Tour victory in Bahrain the week after Kaymer - believes the 26-year-old is the man on form at the moment.

"There's a lot of debate going on right now about who is the real No. 1 in the world," Casey told talkSPORT. "Obviously Lee Westwood is ranked No. 1 but you hear a lot of the press talking and writing about Martin Kaymer, possibly he's the hottest golfer in the world, and right now I have to admit he's the man to beat.

"It seems like every time he tees it up he's at the top of the leaderboard. He seems unflappable. We've not really had a guy like that before, apart from Tiger, who once he gets a lead he just keeps on going.

"That performance he had in Abu Dhabi was very, very impressive - straight out of the blocks, first tournament of the year, he just dusted the field. I think he's got the first major championship of many during his career."

Casey admitted he was pleased to win the Champions Golf event, his first success in more than 18 months, after a nail-biting finish with Swede Peter Hanson.

"That was a new course for us out in Bahrain that none of us had seen before and we had a leaderboard that was packed come Sunday and I was pushed all the way," he said. "I played with Peter Hanson in the final group, he played wonderful golf, and Miguel Angel Jimenez is always one of that rises to the challenge in tough conditions. I managed to just pip those guys by a single shot at the end of it so I was very happy with that."

The Englishman is now looking forward to the rest of 2011 after a bittersweet campaign last year, which culminated in him missing out on selection for Colin Montgomerie's Ryder Cup squad. Casey says he is now over that disappointment - although he still has words for Montgomerie whenever their paths cross.

"What was disappointing was that I didn't qualify myself," he said. "I only had myself to blame. I wasn't picked, that was tough but the thing was how it went down. I've got no issue with not getting picked, I just wanted the team to win. I still speak to Monty - and wind him up!"

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