It is highly doubtful that Paul Casey will need any extra incentive on the final day of The Quinn Direct British Masters, but just in case the Englishman does, the sight of US Open champion Michael Campbell alongside him in the final group should swing it. The two are good friends and have a secret side bet running on the outcome of events at The De Vere Belfry.
Casey failed to hit the same heady heights in his third round but a supremely confident putting display helped him to card a two under par 70, which took him to a 13 under par total of 203. This leaves him two strokes clear of Campbell, his nearest challenger and one of the friends who helped him overcome a slump in form last year.
It was during this time in 2005 that the wagers developed between the pair as an extra incentive, particularly on those days when things are not quite going right.
“Paul went through a bad patch there last year but he’s got so much talent. I was just telling him, be patient with yourself. We started a betting system, him and I,” admitted Campbell, after signing for a four under par 68 that equalled the best score of the day in wet conditions.
The New Zealander would not reveal the exact details of his bet with Casey but explained how a previous one had helped him and Retief Goosen.
“About five years ago Retief Goosen and I were paired together in the Trophée Lancome and we came in about 30th. Goosey and I had Ferraris back in those days and we played for the (insurance) cover, and all of a sudden he won and I came second, so we decided to play a game within the game. I think it’s good for your psyche.
“When I’m out there playing and I see certain guys up there ahead of me, it makes me try a little bit harder. This week is a prime example between myself and Paul. We’ve had a bit of a thing going on, and it’s really helped me a lot these last three days, let me tell you.”
Casey concurred, but the self-confessed Belfry fan knows that he can not afford to take his eye off Darren Clarke in third place on ten under par 206. After a slow start to his third round, the Ulsterman birdied four of the last seven holes to finish exactly where he had started the day – three strokes behind leader Casey.
“Darren is a good player and if he is hot tomorrow then he will be a very big danger,” admitted Casey.
“I am very happy to be playing with Michael tomorrow. He’s a Major Champion and I’ve learned a lot from him and it will be tough again.”
Clarke was one of only six players to pick up a shot at the 18th and that last-gasp birdie helped him into third place on his own, one ahead of Sweden’s Johan Edfors, winner of the TCL Classic in March, and Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher, the 2004 dunhill links champion, who both had rounds of 70 to move onto 207 (-9).
“The score is a much better reflection than the way I hit the ball. I played terribly today and didn’t lay the club face on the ball all day,” was Clarke’s frank assessment of his round.
Also finishing with a 70 was Jarmo Sandelin of Sweden, who was undone by a double bogey six at the last.
“I hit the ground really hard after missing my Tour card and that was a wake up call,” admitted Sandelin. “I have been working hard the past four years and I take all the bad things that have happened with me, and I have use for that. Like when I had a double bogey today. It hurt but I have had worse things happen to me. I hope to challenge tomorrow.”
Belfry-based Tom Whitehouse carded a 69 to move into six under par 210 alongside English compatriot Oliver Wilson and Sweden’s Peter Hanson.
