I'm glad Tiger Woods is back so I can beat him, says Paul Casey

David Smith13 April 2012

Paul Casey today welcomed disgraced rival Tiger Woods back to golf because he wants to beat the world No1 on the way to winning the Masters at Augusta this week.

Casey, who believes he is in the prime of his career and ready to end a drought of English Major winners that stretches back to Nick Faldo's Masters victory in 1996, said: "I want to be playing against Tiger on the golf course.

"I want to be a Major champion and nothing would make me happier than to become a Major champion with Tiger in the field. If he isn't already the greatest golfer we've had, I think he will be.

"I believe he will surpass Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 Major titles. But it would be really cool to say I won the 2010 Masters and Tiger was there."

Woods has not played in a tournament for five months as he dealt with the fall-out from revelations of his string of affairs.

Tomorrow, the American will begin his hunt for a 15th Major title in the company of compatriot Matt Kuchar and KJ Choi, of Korea.

That group tees off at 6.42pm British time, immediately behind that of Casey's countryman Ian Poulter.

Some golfers would not welcome the inevitable distractions of the gallery and media posse seeking vantage points to watch Woods. But Poulter, boosted by his victory over Casey in the World Golf Championship Match Play Final in February, insisted he was happy with his draw.

The world No7 said: "I don't really care where I tee off — whether it is with Tiger, 10 groups behind him or one in front.

"They are very respectful fans inside these gates and they will be respectful on the golf course so it really doesn't matter where you play."

Like Casey, ranked six in the world, Poulter fancies his chances of taking a maiden Major this week. He said: "I'm as ready as I'm ever going to be. I've done enough homework on the golf course to understand it as much as I can."

World No4 Lee Westwood goes into his 11th Masters as England's top golfer and said: "I'm feeling good and playing well. I'm hitting the ball all right, the short game's good and the putting's good."

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