Casey named European Golfer of the Year

Paul Casey's disappointment at just missing out on the European Order of Merit title was eased today when he was named the Tour's Golfer of the Year.

After suffering an horrific slump in 2005 - he went four months without making a single cut - Casey came back to win three times in the 2006 season, including the £1million first prize at the HSBC World Match Play Championship, and played a starring role in the Ryder Cup victory.

Team-mate Padraig Harrington was the player to pip him to the order of merit crown, but the Dubliner won only once during the year and contributed just half a point to the success over the Americans.

Casey, who holed in one during the foursomes and beat current world number two Jim Furyk in the singles, was on course to finish as the circuit's number one until he fell ill at the season-ending Volvo Masters.

The 29-year-old would still have edged out Harrington if Sergio Garcia had not bogeyed the final hole.

Darren Clarke's emotional three points out of three in the Ryder Cup just six weeks after the death of his wife was also considered by a panel of golf writers and broadcasters, but Casey won the vote.

'It is a tremendous honour to be named European Tour Golfer of the Year,' he said.

'To win three times during the 2006 season and play a part in Europe's record-breaking third successive Ryder Cup victory before finishing runner-up to Padraig in the Order of Merit was extremely satisfying, although it goes without saying that I was bitterly disappointed to miss out on the Harry Bardon Trophy.

'The race for the number one position with Padraig, David Howell and Robert Karlsson was truly exceptional and, I believe, fired the imagination of the golfing public in Europe.

'It didn't help that I was ill during the Volvo Masters, but these things happen in sport. It was a tremendous tussle with my three Ryder Cup team-mates and their determination to succeed also helped spur me on at the end of the season.

'Many great golfers have won the European Tour Golfer of the Year accolade and it gives me a great feeling of pride to join that illustrious roll of honour.'