Paul Casey calls Binhai Lake Golf Club as an intimidating layout ahead of Volvo China Open
Englishman Paul Casey is in desperate search of his once shining form as he returns to yet another European Tour event, the Volvo China Open, at the scenic Binhai Lake Golf Club in Tianjin.
The 2006 Volvo China Open winner has fond memories of his victory in Shenzen and is hoping to reinvent his top form which landed him no fewer three professional titles in that eventful year.
Casey is known for his penchant for the thick Chinese layouts but for some strange reason, the Englishman considers the Binhai lake GC as an intimidating course.
He said, “It is a very intimidating looking course but that is one of the things I like about Pete Dye. He likes to intimidate golfers but once you get down the fairways you realise the landing areas are very generous and this course is an absolutely classic example of that”.
Casey suffered a serious accident during a snowboarding stunt at the end of the last season and has been laying off from mainstream for quite a while.
He made a comeback at the WGC Cadillac Championship and also appeared in the Masters but fell for sloppy finishes on both occasions.
Visibly shaken from his slump, Casey is desperately searching for the much-needed confidence in his putting.
Playing the Pro-Am challenge ahead of the event, Casey discussed the intricate details of the layout and said:
“Strategically it is very good. The tees have been moved up this week because it is monstrously long off the back tees and if the wind picked up enough there would be no way we could play off the back tees”.
The 7,667 yards, par-72 layout is one of the most celebrated courses in the region and was designed by the world renowned course designer Pete Dye.
The course was opened in the year 2010 and has been the venue of several high profile events since then.
Casey also lamented the fact that the course is predicted to receive heavy downpours over the weekend, further compounding the misery of an already struggling player.
Despite all the odds on his hands, the Englishman is hopeful of a strong finish if not a win this week.
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