European Tour Insider: Match Play, Casey return

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World No. 3 Paul Casey's rib injury has heeled, and he's looking to play for the first time since August.

Arnold Palmer won the first World Match Play back in 1964, beating Neil Coles in the final. Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Greg Norman, Hale Irwin, Lee Trevino and of course Seve Ballesteros have all won the prestigious event, as well, while Ernie Els won it on no less than seven occasions.

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A new sponsor has now resurrected the event after a year's absence and the Volvo World Match Play takes place at Finca Cortesin in Spain this week. HSBC revitalized the competition by instigating a qualifying system when it used to be invitational.

And there's a new format that makes sure no one arrives for just one day, and then leaves like Tiger Woods did when beaten by Shaun Micheel in 2006. The 16 players are now split into four groups and play three matches each over the first two days.

COMEBACK CASEY
Paul Casey swept past Micheel in the final to win the Match Play three years ago. He's voiced his determination to win again, though this time it will be after his longest spell away from the game.

Casey led the Race to Dubai and had risen to No. 3 in the world rankings, but a nagging rib injury sidelined him for practically three months. This will be his first event since he withdrew during the first round of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational in August.

"It has been a very frustrating time," Casey acknowledged.

Bullishly, he added: "I've listened to, and followed, all the medical advice and my first goal is to try to win The Race to Dubai, starting with the Volvo World Match Play." However, Casey said on Wednesday that his rib area "feels tender; it feels tight" and he wondered how far he might be able to advance.

Casey is grouped with Anthony Kim, Retief Goosen and the Volvo China Open winner Scott Strange, who is his first-round opponent.

European Tour Podcast

Robert Lee and Ross McFarlane reflect on the Castello Masters in Spain, where Sweden's Michael Jonzon claimed his first European Tour title in more than 12 years. Lee and McFarlane also preview two events in the Race to Dubai, the Singapore Open and the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain, and offer a golf tip from England's Ross McGowan. Click to listen

Casey is now down in fourth place in the Race to Dubai. The top three have been drawn in different groups, so there is the chance that the current leader, Lee Westwood, No. 2 Martin Kaymer and No. 3 Rory McIlroy could all reach the semifinals along with Casey, adding to the intrigue over who will eventually claim this year's money list.

BIONIC MAN
Kaymer jumped above McIlroy courtesy of his superb comeback performance at the Castello Masters. Casey hopes his return is as fruitful as that of the German, who had been sidelined after a go-kart accident.

Kaymer ended up in second spot, despite limping around the Castellon course after having had two titanium plates inserted in his foot. Robert Allenby was among those he impressed -- the Australian calling him the "Bionic Man."

Kaymer even had a putt for birdie at the last that would have forced a playoff. Hence, he ended up disappointed with the miss as well as thrilled at the way he'd handled his return.

He is, though, wary of the prospect of playing 36 holes in a day this week.

MAGIC JONZON
Michael Jonzon proved the man to deny Kaymer at the Club de Campo del Mediterraneo. It was a fairy-tale victory, and every bit as remarkable as the young German's performance.

The 37-year-old Swede arrived in Spain ranked No. 158 in the Race to Dubai and looking to build confidence ahead of q-school. His one previous European Tour win was 12 years ago in Portugal, but his fortunes were dramatically reversed on Sunday.

"I've been feeling almost depressed this year." Jonzon said. "It hasn't been easy. We lost a child in pregnancy. My brother lost his wife to cancer last year. It's been a struggle and I fought so hard for this."

He's now on the verge of a trip to the Dubai World Championship, and he may be reading this while already there on holiday with his family.

HEROIC HUTSBY
You saw how Rickie Fowler thrived at the Frys.com Open last week. A Walker Cup rival, Sam Hutsby, shone in similar fashion in Spain. He'll mark his 21st birthday this week in Singapore as a result of a top-10 finish at the Castello Masters and his first paycheck as a pro.

"It's been an incredible experience." Sam says "It just felt so right being out there."

SINGAPORE SWING
It's an unusual week on the European Tour in that two events will be taking place. The Barclays Singapore Open is being sanctioned by the Tour for the first time.

Ernie Els won't be winning the Match Play again, because he's among the stars who've made their way to the Sentosa Golf Club, though the reigning champion Jeev Milkha Singh has gone the other way and will be in Spain.

Els is joined by world No. 2 Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington, Ian Poulter and the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship winner Geoff Ogilvy, among others.