England's Paul Casey came within a whisker of celebrating the birth of his son last week by creating a piece of European Tour history at the KLM Open.
The 37 year old Englishman’s fiancée gave birth to the couple’s son on September 1, and Casey has clearly taken to fatherhood as he recorded nine birdies over his first 17 holes at the par-70 Kennemer Golf & Country Club.
An eagle at the par four last would have seen the three-time Ryder Cup star become the first player to shoot 59 on The European Tour, and he was only a fraction away as his ball pitched close to the pin and spun back to miss the hole by a couple of inches.
Unfortunately the spin then carried the ball off the front of the green and led to a first bogey of the day, but Casey had no complaints after matching Pablo Larrazábal’s course record and moving into contention for a first win of the season.
“I actually wasn’t thinking about what I was shooting, but apparently came quite close to shooting a 59 on the last,” said Casey. “It was a wonderful day out there.
“I’m really not bothered about the 59 - I wasn’t thinking about it. It wasn’t until my caddie said that was almost a 59 that I thought about it.
“The disappointment was making a bogey on the last, not in missing out on a 59. I’m just happy I’m playing some good stuff. Life is great. I’ve got a little one at home now, and it just means I have to go home a little later now.
“I’m just trying to enjoy myself, being relaxed but commit to every shot out there. If I play well, fantastic, and I have the chance to win a golf tournament, but if not I get to go home and see my little baby.
“I played some good golf today which was wonderful. To throw in a bunch of birdies was great. I wasn’t aware of the 59 chance until the ball skirted past the cup and rolled off the green.
“I’m ecstatic with the way I played. I’m not disappointed, other than bogeying the last. It’s an opportunity now to challenge for this golf tournament.
“I was aware I was 11 under and tied for the lead at the time, so I was just trying to get one more. I wasn’t trying to be cheeky, I was trying to play to the right of it like Adam Gee did and spin it back to tap in range. I wasn’t trying to be greedy. I knew it would possibly spin off the green when I saw the line it was on. The 59 didn’t come into the though process at any time.
“I’m going to have to be care free again. Becoming a father just a few days ago, I’ll be honest and say this probably isn’t the most important thing right now and isn’t my immediate focus, or all of my focus. There have been times the last few days I would rather have been at home, but I will be committed tomorrow, but I will maintain that care free attitude tomorrow. Whether I win this golf tournament or not, I’ll get to go home to my new baby.”
