Casey - in the doldrums (Getty Images).

Paul Casey, a World Cup winner with Luke Donald only seven months ago, hit a new low when he started the US Open with an horrendous 85 at Pinehurst.

The 27-year-old Ryder Cup star had one birdie, five pars, nine bogeys and two double-bogeys before finishing on the 175-yard ninth with a triple-bogey six.

Casey, now an horrific 46 over par for his last seven rounds, hit only five fairways and was on just six of the 18 greens in regulation figures.

His last appearance in the United States was the Masters in April - and his problems were apparent there as well in rounds of 79 and 78.

Since then he has an 80 at the Forest of Arden in the British Masters and two 78s in the BMW Championship at Wentworth, missing the cut in both.

On Tuesday Casey was hopeful the worst was behind him.

"I became paralysed over the ball and was beating myself up on the course. But all you can try to do is smile and battle through it," he said.

"It wasn't fun for a while - it can't be when you don't know where the ball is going to go.

"But I'm starting to hit some good shots again now and I'm always the optimist. The glass is always half-full, never half-empty."

After Wentworth Casey headed back to his base in Scottsdale, Arizona, and spent time with his coach Peter Kostis.

The key thing they agreed on was that as a feel player he needed to clear his head of technical thoughts.

"We did a lot of playing rather than standing there thinking about how to cure this. It was getting back to basics really.

"Now I'm picking a target and hitting it rather than worrying about where my feet are or how my shoulders are lined up.

"I'm enjoying the game again and I'm going to stay upbeat. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season.

"The one time I've played well this year I've won."

Casey has now had a round of 85 in three of the four majors. He opened with the same score in the 2002 US PGA at Hazeltine and the 2003 Open at Sandwich.