Paul Casey is one of the most consistent golfers on the PGA Tour.
In six events so far in 2018, the Englishman has five top-20 finishes, including his first stateside victory in nine years (at the Valspar Championship, where he edged out none other than Tiger Woods).
He’s been playing great golf for a long time, so his record-breaking performance at Augusta on Sunday came as no great surprise.
That didn’t stop it from being truly special, though.
Out nice and early, the world number 13 skipped to the turn in 33 after picking up shots at the 2nd, 5th and 8th. Tidy work, yes, but what came next put him within touching distance of an unprecedented score around Augusta’s hallowed fairways.
Casey drained a monstrous putt on 11, duly picked up a birdie at the treacherous 12th before slamming home an eagle at 13. Amen Corner has reduced golfers greater than Casey to quivering wrecks but he covered the famous three-hole stretch in eight strokes. He could sell that to Rory McIlroy or Patrick Reed for a tidy sum.
Paul Casey played Amen Corner in eight strokes.
Yes, eight. Amen Corner. Eight strokes. Total. That's insane.
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelGolf) April 8, 2018
What did he do next? A birdie at 14, of course, and he wasn’t done there, two-putting for birdie on the par-5 15th.
Masters 2018: Paul Casey | 11th Hole, Round 4 pic.twitter.com/QanGmA35CK
— Masters Highlights (@MastersMoments) April 8, 2018
Masters 2018: Paul Casey | 13th Hole, Round 4 pic.twitter.com/M2y5Jr2asR
— Masters Highlights (@MastersMoments) April 8, 2018
It was a stunning stretch, -6 for five holes. A gutsy par save on the par-3 16th followed, keeping him at -9 for the round. The course record at Augusta National is 63, managed by Nick Price in 1986 and Greg Norman in 1996.
With a 63 of his own, Casey would have joined elite company. Unfortunately, a scrappy bogey 17 proved his undoing and he eventually signed for a 65, after a five at the 18th. It was a whimpering end to a stellar round of golf.
He won’t go alongside Price or Norman, but hats off to you, Paul, that was a truly remarkable exhibition.
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