Watched by His Highness Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sport and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, Paul Casey ended a 20-month title drought when he captured the inaugural Volvo Golf Champions in Bahrain.The 33 year old Englishman’s last victory on The European Tour had come in his home country in the PGA Championship at Wentworth, but he got back into the winners’ circle in style after a thrilling final day at The Royal Golf Club.
Casey’s final round 68 on the Montgomerie Course gave him a 20 under par total of 268 and a one shot triumph over Sweden’s Peter Hanson, who played with him in the final group on the course and whose 69 for a total of 269 pushed the Englishman all the way, and Spain’s Miguel Angel Jiménez who posted a closing 67.
Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher was fourth while Sweden’s Robert Karlsson, who will go on to defend his Qatar Masters title at Doha Golf Club next week took fifth spot but the tournament, and the final day, was all about Casey.
The now 11 time winner on The European Tour had already tasted glory twice during the week, winning the traditional curtain-raising Pro-Am on Wednesday before, in conjunction with Darren Clarke and amateur Kevin Aherne, he also won the inaugural Volvo Golf Champions Amateur-Pro Team Competition on Friday. But this was the win he truly desired.
Summing up the mood of his people who thronged the 18th green to watch the first ever European Tour golf tournament in their country, His Highness Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who presented Casey with the gleaming new trophy, said: “This has been a great tournament for everyone here. I don’t think there is anywhere you can play golf amongst oil pipelines. There is always something unique in Bahrain."
