Casey Grabs A Two Shot Lead Through 18 at the Transitions

A flawless opening round has given Paul Casey a two shot lead at the Transitions Championship and made him the resounding favourite through the first 18 holes in Florida.

Casey’s bogey free round included 7 birdies as the Englishman made minced meat out of the Innisbrook golf course hitting 83% of the greens on Thursday in what was a clinical performance.

His 64 gave the Englishman a two shot lead over last week’s winner Nick Watney and made him a strong favourite at (4-1).

Nick Watney definitely showed everyone that there will be no hangover from his win last week at the Cadillac Championship.

He followed up his victory over Dustin Johnson at the Blue Monster with a 5-under 66 to take second on both the betting and leader boards. 

It wasn’t a perfect round from Watney, but as he showed last week in victory, he was able to get up and down with ease and got in with 7 birdies and just 2 bogeys.

If he continues to eat up par-5’s, having birdied all but one on Thursday, Watney will most certainly be someone to contend with over the next 54 holes and there’s no wonder he’s second on the betting board at (6-1).

Coming in behind Watney is world number one Martin Kaymer who opened with a solid 3-under 68 and sits in a tie for 16th.

It was an eventful round for the German wunderkind who made just three birdies with his biggest move coming on his opening hole as Kaymer eagled the par-5 1st hole.

Kaymer has had a spotty time on the weekend recently and there’s no recent history to say that he will be able to close a gap on the weekend, so if he doesn’t get closer tomorrow he’ll have to shoot his first weekend round in the 60’s in over a month.

Regardless, Kaymer is like enough to tee off round two at (12-1).

From the land of long odds, Garrett Willis is at (50-1) despite being in the group at 5-under two shots back of Casey.

Truly, Willis is the definition of a longshot even with an impressive opening round as he’s made just a single cut in 2011.  Furthermore, he’s broken 60 in a competitive round just twice this season.

I had played so poorly recently, I started thinking that maybe I should do something else. Then I saw my friends going to work every day and realized that my life wasn't so bad    - Steve Pate