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Casey hungry for action

Author: John Harris
Date: 21/01/2010
Golf betting

England's Paul Casey returns to action after injury to defend his title at this week's Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

The 32-year-old Englishman made a super start to the 2009 campaign, before a rib injury halted his progress and left him looking to regain ground, having risen to number three in the world rankings just under a year ago.

Can Paul Casey return to action with a victory? - Latest Golf Betting

Casey told the European Tour's official website: "I feel hungry to play a lot of golf. I've tried to come back and I haven't been ready, which has been frustrating. 2009 could have been such a great year and it was a great year, but it was just half a year.

"If I can just stay fit and healthy, there's no reason why I can't do better things this year as I did in the beginning of 2009."

Casey took the honours at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club by a single shot last year, while he also emerged victorious in 2007, with his wins sandwiching a success for Germany's Martin Kaymer - who finished tied for second place 12 months ago.

The inaugural tournament in Abu Dhabi in 2006 saw the title won by US Ryder Cup player Chris DiMarco.

That has left Casey as the online betting joint favourite to complete a hat-trick, with Australia's Geoff Ogilvy and European number one Lee Westwood also much fancied.

Westwood, like Casey, is making his first appearance of the season, having emerged victorious in the initial Race to Dubai last year.

However, Casey, Oglivy and Westwood will face stiff competition from the likes of Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson in the strongest field to date in the fledgling European campaign.

Spaniard Garcia ended in a share of eighth place last year and will be keen to get his season off to a good start, as he continues to go in search of that elusive first Major crown.

Northern Ireland's rising star Rory McIlroy will also be looking to challenge at the top of the leaderboard, having finished four shots off the pace behind Casey in 2009.

Another man who is sure to attract some interest is South African Charl Schwartzel, who recently won back-to-back titles at the Africa Open and the Joburg Open on home soil.

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