Casey claims Shot of the Year
Casey finished runner-up in the European Order of Merit Casey, partnering David Howell, holed with a four iron from 213 yards on the 14th at the K Club to seal a 5&4 win over Stewart Cink and Zach Johnson.The 29-year-old Englishman, who was named as the European Tour Golfer of the Year last week, wins £2,000 to donate to the charity of his choice.”It is a very, very special award. I feel very privileged,” said Casey.”There were so many great shots played during the season and I feel very lucky that mine
has been voted the best of them.”Second place went to Marc Warren for his superb approach to the final green on the last day of the Scandinavian Masters in August.The shot helped Warren force a play-off with Sweden’s Robert Karlsson which the Scot eventually won. 
Paul Casey Casey’s ace is the first Ryder Cup hole-in-one since Howard Clark’s effort at Oak Hill in 1995. It is also the first time anyone has aced a hole to close out a Ryder Cup match.The match win helped Casey’s European team complete a stunning 18½-9½ triumph over America.”It was my first hole-in-one in a professional tournament and to achieve it in a Ryder Cup was an unbelievable experience,” added Casey, who is the fourth winner of the award following Fredrik Jacobson, Howell and Paul McGinley.”I can remember watching countless replays of people like Nick Faldo and Howard Clark making holes in one at previous Ryder Cups and I am looking forward to seeing this one replayed again and again.”I knew I had struck it very well, turning it on the wind, but when the crowd erupted at the back of the green it was a bizarre moment.”I didn’t want to celebrate too soon in case it hadn’t gone in.”That’s why you can see my delayed reaction before throwing my arms in the air. It was amazing.”How often do you finish off a Ryder Cup match without walking off the tee? It was a very surreal situation and I don’t suppose I will ever replicate that shot under those circumstances.”Casey had an impressive 2006, winning three tournaments, but was pipped by Ireland’s Padraig Harrington in the European Order of Merit race.