Paul Casey says retaining his Valspar Championship title was a “mega” boost to his confidence heading into next month’s Masters at Augusta.
The 41-year-old became the first player to successfully defend the title at Innisbrook, having negotiated the ‘Snake Pit’ to claim a one-shot victory on Sunday.
Claiming a third PGA Tour title is a massive boost for Casey, a 28/1 shot to win the Masters, who now feels he has a great chance of claiming a first major at Augusta next month.
The Englishman has five top 10 finishes at Augusta, including three in a row before last year’s tied-15th, and a best finish of fourth so knows that he can contend for the green jacket if his form continues.
"I feel good," he told Sky Sports after his Valspar win. "I've got to play like that. I drove the ball so well this week, these fairways are so narrow. Drive it like that - I've got a very, very good chance.”
Masters outright odds
- 15/2 Rory McIlroy
- 8/1 Dustin Johnson
- 12/1 Justin Rose
- 14/1 Tiger Woods
- (28/1 Paul Casey)
Casey has said before that he cannot match a Rory McIlroy or Dustin Johnson on their best day, but still feels he can win the Masters.
"Clean up the putting a little bit and I need someone like Rory and Dustin to maybe not play their best because I'm not sure I can beat them when they are on their best game - I give them full credit, I'm not as good as they are - but I've got a good chance."
Casey’s win made it three successive PGA Tour winners from Europe, after Francesco Molinari won the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Rory McIlroy landed the PLAYERS.
It's all building towards a strong European challenge at Augusta, with Casey one of a number of players looking to make an impact in the first major of the year.
Casey is also among the big names hoping to break their major duck this season - and he's 8/1 to land a major this season as a result of his improving form.
Battling victory for Casey
A one-over round of 72 was enough for Casey to lift the title on Sunday, but on a tough golf course and challenging for the win he was happy enough to grind it out.
"It was messy but this golf course is so difficult," added Casey.
"I did make errors, but we look at it holistically, we are looking at 72 holes as much as we can.
"It was hard work. In my mind I was going up against the world No 1 - it was beat him and I've probably got this - and it turned out to be a very different scenario as Dustin struggled today and I feel so good right now."