PGA Tour

Frustrated Casey out to make amends in 2012

ESPN staff

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Paul Casey won in January, but it was downhill from there © Getty Images

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Paul Casey

Paul Casey is aiming for major success in 2012 as he looks to ensure he avoids experiencing another bout of Ryder Cup heartbreak.

Casey struggled by his standards in 2011, after being hampered by a mid-season toe injury that affected his balance and led to a number of flaws creeping into his swing. Hoping to put all those issues to bed in the current off-season, the Englishman is looking to kick on in 2012 and take his career to the next level.

"My very lofty goals I haven't yet achieved so they're going to be the same in 2012, and those will be the majors and WGC events," Casey said. "But I have other goals ... winning tournaments, winning a certain number of world ranking points, making the Ryder Cup team, being back in the winner's circle on the PGA Tour."

Casey, who spends much of his time on the American circuit, is especially determined to qualify automatically for Jose Maria Olazabal's team for Medinah in September, after missing out in agonising circumstances for Colin Montgomerie's 2010 side.

Having failed to secure an automatic spot on the 12-man squad, Casey saw the in-form Edoardo Molinari swoop in to claim the captain's pick that would almost certainly have otherwise gone his way, as he was forced to miss out on a fourth appearance in the high-profile event.

"I am really hungry to get back on that team," the 34-year-old added. "With the depth of talent that we've got in Europe, it's probably going to be the most difficult team to make since I've been on tour.

"But first things first, I need to win golf tournaments and get back on that team. And stay healthy."

That has been the problem in 2011, as 'turf toe' ravaged his year. Picked up in May but only diagnosed properly in August, Casey's attempts to play through the issue caused more harm than good.

"It was a joint in my foot which wasn't allowing my foot to move correctly and that put pressure on my toe," the current world No. 21 said.

"What's interesting is that if I swing the club the way I should swing it, correctly and the way I used to swing it, the toe is fine.

"But those bad habits led to erratic golf. My weight got back on the heels and the club started to go up rather than around, very simply it was too steep."