Casey: 'This place ticks all the boxes for me'

It is astonishing that no European has won the U.S. Open since Tony Jacklin's victory in the Open in 1970, and now the onus falls to Paul Casey. Is he up to the task?

He's played well enough in 2009 to have risen to No. 3 in the world behind Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, and his attitude seems right, as was evident in his assessment of Bethpage Black, provided here by Derek Lawrenson of the Daily Mail:

"I'd almost consider living in New York just so I could play here for $45. This place ticks all the boxes for me. I just love it when you've got holes where you're scared stiff with a pitching wedge in your hands, and then other par fours where you've got to belt the ball with a drive and long iron simply to find the green. The way they have set up the course gives you options. It puts questions and doubts in your mind, and that's what the game is all about for me."

-- John Strege