Paul Casey uses his lower body to hit booming tee shotsIf you know
Peter Kostis,then you know he's not the type of guy who believes in hyperbole. So when he says as a golf instructor and TV commentator that
Paul Caseyis "gutsy" and one of the "most determined" golfers he has seen, you can't help but wonder if 2011 will be the year the Englishman wins his first major championship."A golf swing can't give you heart, and that's what Paul has, and that's what makes him successful," says Kostis, who has worked with Casey for several years. "All I want is to give him a swing that won't prohibit his success."That swing, Kostis says, emphasizes the fundamentals--good grip and posture--and is powered by his biggest muscles. "He's very active with his legs, although in these photos a little too active. But that's because of the [rib] muscle tear. He was so sore, he didn't have the ability to really separate his hips from his shoulders when he swung the club. He hits it the best when his lower body can turn in the downswing before the upper body."The torn muscle might also explain why Casey went winless in 2010 and was left off the European Ryder Cup team. Before that, many tabbed him as the next big thing. He won three times in '09, including his first victory on the PGA Tour--the Shell Houston Open--and has been in the top 10 in the World Golf Ranking ever since."I still feel the muscles in my ribs, occasionally, but now they don't affect my swing," he says.
--Ron Kaspriske