Iain Carter's US Open Diary
Having a British player third best in the world at tennis seems to have brought on a serious bout of , but a UK a golfer at the same elevated level doesn't appear to have had a similar effect.
Paul Casey isn't overly concerned, though, at any lack of recognition for what he's achieved this year. His victory at the was his third win of 2009 and no player has earned more world ranking points in this period.
While Murray heads to Wimbledon trailing only Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the tennis standings, the Arizona based Casey comes into the US Open with only Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson above him .
"I'm absolutely fine with what's happening," Casey told me. "I'm not out here looking for recognition. I'm out here to play with the best players in the world week in week out and trying to beat them as often as I can.
"In golf it doesn't happen that often. It's not like tennis where you can have long undefeated streaks. You know Tiger is very much the exception to the rule. It's great to be playing golf in the Tiger era and incredibly difficult as well.
"I've been lucky enough to have three victories this year and I've jumped up those rankings very, very quickly but as I say it's not about the recognition, I just want to see how good I can be and see how many tournaments I can win.
"For me I'd love to add majors to that CV because I think that's what defines guys' careers when it's all said and done.
"I'm very happy to fly under the radar and continue to put in the hard work and see where I get."
A win this week and he shouldn't be short of recognition - even if Murray can justify the interest he's generating for .
In some respects it is astonishing to think that Casey is as high in the rankings as he is, while the reigning and champion Padraig Harrington currently resides outside the world top 10.
But this is a reflection of the Irishman's comparatively woeful returns in tournaments outside the biggest ones.
Since sharing fifth place at the 2008 Masters, Harrington has had just two more top five finishes bar those major wins. He arrives here off the back of two missed cuts.
But you write him off at your peril, because there are few others with the mental fortitude to be competitive despite such unpromising results in the build up to a major.
Maybe it is something to do with how he rationalises his plight. Asked whether he is currently worried about the dark tunnel that seems to surround his game, Harrington said: "It intrigues me, it fascinates me, it gets me interested.
"Worry wouldn't be the right word. I certainly think about it and evaluate it and try and work it out. The whole complexity of it is what's fascinating.
"I'm comfortable with it and that's the main thing. I understand what's going on and what's happening so you've got to work forward with that and accept that it will take time."
So what does he think of his prospects this week? "I really have no idea," said the ever-honest three-time major winner.
Harrington may be a longer shot than someone who has enjoyed so much recent major success should be, but don't completely discount him this week. To me he sits on a list that includes the likes of Casey, Jim Furyk, Angel Cabrera, Lee Westwood and Geoff Ogilvy who are certainly worth watching.
is another with two wins in his last five outings.
Obviously there are many other potential contenders trailing in the wake of the out and out favourite Woods and that list might also include .
And I'm wondering whether the Spaniard is on a new charm offensive? The self confessed "What you see is what you get" Garcia was a far cry from the frustrated, angry figure that departed the Masters claiming a serious distaste for all things Augusta in April.
When he met journalists ahead of his tenth tilt at the US Open, Garcia was charm personified, going out of his way to personalise his answers by beginning them with reporters' names.
Maybe he is in a happier place with his personal life settling down or maybe he feels demand for supreme ball striking skills is right up his alley.
Or maybe, as a Real Madrid fan, he's just thrilled at the prospect of and heading to the Bernabeu?
At the other end of golf's fame game, Southampton's Richard Bland is making his US Open debut after coming through and thanks to his wife's shopping habits he is already under pressure.
After acknowledging the brutal difficulty of the championship ahead, Bland didn't discount the need for a top ten finish. He revealed with a grin: "My wife's in New York shopping as we speak, so I need to make a hell of a lot of money this week!"
Don't forget you can access my US Open updates on Twitter at and there will be daily podcasts to compliment our extensive radio coverage on Five Live.
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Comment number 1.
At 16th Jun 2009, ThumbsUp wrote:Harrington certainly does not have to worry, ever again. As casey says, majors define a golfer's career and he has his share of major sucess. Not sure about Garcia's chances. With Adam Scott, they should both have won at least one major each by now.They have inherited Monty's title as the best player never to have won a major
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Comment number 2.
At 16th Jun 2009, feisty wrote:'Having a British player third best in the world at tennis seems to have brought on a serious bout of Murraymania, but a UK a golfer at the same elevated level doesn't appear to have had a similar effect.'
Without showing disrespect towards Paul Casey (who has been on fine form), when was the last time we had a British tennis player at no. 3 (answer, 'never', since professional rankings began). And with Wimbledon and a good chance of a British winner just around the corner you have to expect a lot of hype (most of it from sports journalists).
So to try and compare the achievements or due recognition between Murray and Casey is a bit daft, and in all honesty its sub-standard sports journalism.
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Comment number 3.
At 17th Jun 2009, cfcboy23 wrote:"So to try and compare the achievements or due recognition between Murray and Casey is a bit daft, and in all honesty its sub-standard sports journalism."
In YOUR opinion!
I thought it was a good analogy/discussion point! Good luck Paul Casey and good luck Andy Murray but as one is English and the other Scottish, I have to admit to having no allegiance to Murray whatsoever.
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Comment number 4.
At 17th Jun 2009, lordSUPERFRED wrote:Paul Casey has history with the American public and there is no harder place to test this than New York , the brash and overly loud galleries at bethpage will test him as much as the course and the rest of the field , if he can overcome all three and win it will be an even bigger acheivment than Murray winning in SW19. I dont take either to do it this year with Federer and Woods to prevail , an easy choice I know but this is not there time yet
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Comment number 5.
At 17th Jun 2009, madeiraman57 wrote:Paul Casey Iain Carter's US Open diary
"A win here and Paul Casey shouldn't be short of recognition"
Iain, good blog, but the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖpage headline ( as above ) states the bl...y obvious.!
ANY European winner after 39 years will be big, nay huge news worldwide and riches will abound in the good old USA.
If the Usual Suspects - Tiger etc - don't win, it will be someone out of the blue, maybe Brian Gay as winning becomes a habit.
I don't see a European winner in all honesty sorry to say, if Sir Nick when the worlds best player and definitely the most driven / focused of his generation couldn't win the US`Open, I don't believe the current crop of millionaire's can do it. His recent interview with Gabby Logan say's all, 4th place now in PGA tornaments gets as much cash as he received for 5 wins in 1985 !!
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Comment number 6.
At 17th Jun 2009, JPKinBelfast wrote:Decent article, looking forward to your blogs throughout the weekend's action.
You've mentioned the usual suspects for US Opens as ones to watch - Westwood; Ogilivy; Furyk et al, but have you any outsiders that might be worth an each-way punt?
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Comment number 7.
At 17th Jun 2009, fattddaddy wrote:"3rd in the world" ....might as well be 20th except for endorsement money.The gap between 1st and 3rd is so significant, it's silly to even discuss.
Furyk, Toms, Gay, and Westwood could have been considered if the USGA kept the rough high like at Oakmont. The graduated length does not play to their strengths. It gives the bombers even that much more of an advantage.
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Comment number 8.
At 17th Jun 2009, goldfingermogewa wrote:The blog is an excellent summary - agreed that Casey deserves more recognition; his achievements have been brilliant of late and easily on a par with those of Murray (notably the Scot) - Tennis is just more in the spotlight because of the desperate Henmania culture of the last decade. Sir Nick is a great example of a sporting hero who could not be accepted as such within these shores by everyday Jim. Thank goodness the hierarchy have given due recognition. Casey will succeed as he refined his talents the other side of the Atlantic and has a proper winners attitude...unlike some...
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Comment number 9.
At 17th Jun 2009, 1Wattie wrote:paul casey is in the unfortunate position of being a Brit and all of the hype that goes with it. We put excessive pressure and expectation on all of our sports stars and I feel the only one who has not let that pressure affect him is Nick faldo and possibly Padraig Harrington. If Colin Montgomerie had been able to "switch off " like Nick he would surely have won at least one major by now. Justin Rose probably had the greatest potential of any of our stars over the last 10 to 15 years but he has so far failed to turn that into major victories.
Luke Donald, Ian Poulter and Nick Doherty can be added to the increasing list and you wonder if our expectation is too big a burden for them to bear.
Nick faldo switched off and got on with winning majors and because of this people said he had no personality and turned against him. He won 6 majors for gods sake, what else did people want of him?, singing and dancing along the fairways.
In a lot of respects you can`t blame the likes of Casey and Rose for plying their trade on the other side of the pond, at least there they have become small fish in big pools whereas here their every move and statement would be examined and questioned.
Good luck to Paul Casey, I hope he silences all of his critics.
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Comment number 10.
At 18th Jun 2009, kwiniaskagolfer wrote:Don't think there's any comparison really, neither has won a Grand Slam, but Murray has come close, Casey has proven top ten credentials, but no more.
Much as I like Casey and wish him every success, his current ranking is due more to the inability of others to maintain a consistent level of performance, Vijay, Garcia, Harrington, South Africa. Some Major Championship top threes or a WGC win will elevate Casey to Murray's level.
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