Paul Casey loves East Lake Golf Club.
Like, really loves it. Like, it reminds him of Augusta National Golf Club.
Casey shot a 4-under par 66 in the opening round of the Tour Championship on Thursday at the Atlanta landmark.
“I love this golf course at East Lake, it's a classic, it's maybe one of the finest we play all year,” Casey said after his round. “In a weird way it's a shame it's only 30 guys, you would love the entire PGA Tour to get to play this great track. It's a golf course that rewards good ball striking, you've got to hit a lot of fairways, you've got to position the ball ideally below the hole and good touch putting, which is something that's all kind of in my wheelhouse.
“We’re not too far away from Augusta and it's a similar sort of style of golf and a requirement that you have to have around here to play this golf course well and it's something I have.”
Casey started his opening round with a birdie on No. 1, only one other golfer accomplished the feat on the difficult hole.
Casey entered the FedEx Cup playoff finale 10th in the point standings. He need a victory and a little help, like leader Jordan Spieth to finish in a three-way tie for fourth or worse.
Casey, the Englishman, is one of nine non-Americans in the field of 30 players. His opening round was good for a tie for second, with Webb Simpson, Daniel Berger and Brooks Koepka, two strokes behind leader Kyle Stanley.
Casey likened the style of play necessary at East Lake to that of Augusta, home of the Masters.
“I think that there's a lot of similarities when you look at the golf you've got to play, the maybe ball shape,” Casey said. “Got to hit a lot of greens in regulation, you've got to keep the ball below the hole, you've got to be a great touch putter is basically what I said. That rings true on both Augusta National and East Lake, so probably why I like both of them.”
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