Casey gears up for major role in Ryder Cup team

Seventeen months to go to the next Ryder Cup in Detroit and already Paul Casey is considering his chances about not just being there, but playing a full role on his debut. After scoring 65 and reaching halfway in the Canaries Spanish Open here on 15 under par yesterday, the 25-year-old Englishman said: "I don't want to be on the bench the first couple of days. I want to be a big part of the team. I'd like to be thought of as a guy who can win maximum points."

Sixteen birdies in 36 holes in his first event since February, albeit on an easy Costa Adeje course which looked certain to produce the lowest halfway cut in European tour history, would impress any captain and they swept Casey into a share of the lead late in the day with the Marbella-based Miles Tunnicliff.

Although the qualifying points race does not start until this September, Casey is conscious of his world ranking. He is 67th at present and said: "I need to get into the top 50. That will get me into the world championships and majors. Everything is towards the Ryder Cup right now."

Tunnicliff did not even have a tour card a year ago and had been to the qualifying school 12 times, but then came an emotional victory in the Great North Open at Slaley Hall near Newcastle last June just two weeks after the death of his mother. It thrust the Leamington Spa-born 34-year-old into the limelight.

"Next week I was paired with Darren Clarke in the Irish Open and from having nobody watch me on the Challenge Tour it came as a bit of a shock," he said. "I was thrown in at the deep end and everything takes some getting used to, but then I started feeling more comfortable." He has yet to have a top 10 finish since.

In the group two strokes behind are Jose Maria Olazabal – chasing his first Spanish Open title, but twice a winner in Tenerife – his compatriot Santiago Luña, the 29-year-old Dubliner Peter Lawrie and Essex's Simon Khan, who has already had fourth and ninth place finishes this season.

The defending champion Sergio Garcia improved two strokes on his opening 69 to make it through on eight under, but two late bogeys cost Seve Ballesteros dear and out he went on five under.

The 18-year-old South African Charl Schwartzel and the Swede Marten Olander, who hit 63s on the first day, yesterday cooled down. Olander had a 69 to be 12 under, while Schwartzel, trying to become the youngest-ever winner on the circuit, resumed with a double bogey seven and with six to play was five behind.

The previous record low cut was five under par, but even those on six under were in danger of failing to qualify for the final two rounds.