Paul Casey to rejoin European Tour in bid to make Ryder Cup return

Paul Casey makes his LIV Golf debut at Trump National Bedminster.

Paul Casey is set to rejoin the European Tour next season, ending a three-year absence in a bid to return to the Ryder Cup.

Casey, who opted out of European Tour membership in 2015 to focus on his career on the PGA Tour, has finally ended speculation by revealing he will be making himself eligble for the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in Paris.  

The 40-year-old, who has been on two winning teams, hasn’t played on a Ryder Cup team since 2008 after he was overlooked as a wildcard pick in 2010 by Colin Montgomerie and missed out on playing at Medinah in 2012 through injury. 

In the past few years Casey has once again moved up the world rankings and has reestablished himself as a regular contender on the PGA Tour – but despite his form he still wasn’t able to be persuaded to make himself available for Europe’s loss at Hazeltine in 2016 due to having a young family and not wanting to commit to a two-tour schedule.

However, Thomas Bjorn has been very vocal since securing the captaincy at the start of the year about his desire for the World No.15 to be a part of the team in 2018, and Casey credited the European Captain as being a ‘massive support’ in making his decision. 

“I’m excited to say this – for next year I am going to rejoin the European Tour,” Casey said. “The reasons why I didn’t renew my membership originally was because of commitments to my family and, if anything, that’s now doubly difficult because I’ve got a seven-week-old little girl [Astaria] at home. As hard as it was trying to make it work three years ago, struggling with my game and dropping out of the world’s top 50, I have missed it too much. Missed my contribution to European golf and watching the Ryder Cup and not being a part of that.”

“I think ultimately the biggest thing about making this decision is I’m avoiding the regret of not doing this.

“I want to play another Ryder Cup and that’s why I need to do this. I genuinely can’t tell you how excited I am and how cool it is to think about the possibility of that next September, for multiple reasons”

“Thomas has been a massive support,” Casey added. “He’s assisted in me making the decision with his confidence and his backing of me and my game, but he also hasn’t crowded me.

“I sent Thomas a congratulatory message on his appointment and our conversations haven’t stopped since.”