Fresh from a scorching start at LIV Golf Hong Kong, where he carded a bogey-free 7-under 63 to grab the first-round lead, Paul Casey is eyeing a maiden victory in Hong Kong. However, this strong performance comes on the back of a string of lackluster results, including a T18 finish at LIV Golf Riyadh and a T31 finish at LIV Golf Adelaide. Despite his storied career boasting 21 wins in 13 countries, Casey’s recent form has been inconsistent. Now, as he leads the defending tournament champion Crushers GC to a share of the team leaderboard, he’s setting his sights on conquering the Hong Kong Golf Club.

Speaking at the Hong Kong Golf Club press conference, Paul Casey shared his candid thoughts on his rivalry with Bryson DeChambeau, highlighting the competitive fire that burns between them. When asked about DeChambeau’s comments on being proud of Casey but still wanting to beat him, Casey responded with a laugh, saying, “Awesome. That’s great. What can I say?” This lighthearted response belies a deeper competitive streak, as Casey acknowledged DeChambeau’s impressive golf skills, particularly his driving abilities, stating, “His ability with the golf ball is second to none. He can drive the golf ball like nobody else really on the planet playing tour golf.”

This admiration for DeChambeau’s talent is tempered by Casey’s own determination to come out on top, as he confessed, “Every time I want to go out there, I try and beat him.” Casey’s recall of a memorable moment from last year’s final round, where he holed a bunker shot on the 16th hole while paired with DeChambeau, adds further context to their rivalry, as he added “I’ll not lie, there’s an element where you’re like, I want to beat him.” Ultimately, Casey’s determination to outdo DeChambeau is clear, as he stated, “I’m like, no, I want to beat him this year.”

But this isn’t the first time Paul Casey has expressed his sense of rivalry towards Bryson DeChambeau.

Paul Casey’s drive to beat Bryson DeChambeau is burning from a long time

Last month, Paul Casey made some revealing comments on the Rick Shiels Golf Show, giving us a glimpse into his competitive mindset. He recalled the moment he received a call from DeChambeau to join Crushers GC, and while he praised the captain’s heart, he also opened up about the jealousy factor. “I was a bit pissed off last year that I didn’t beat him overall,” Casey admitted, revealing a desire to outdo his teammate. Casey’s frustration with not beating DeChambeau has become a motivating factor for him.

He even felt that he could have ranked above the 2X US Open winner in the current LIV Golf season. “Had some moments I didn’t play my best golf, but I walked away going, I’m frustrated I didn’t beat him,” Casey said. What keeps him going? “I’m like that gets my goat so that keeps me going.” This rivalry within Crushers GC adds an exciting layer to the LIV Golf tournament, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out.

However, a closer look at the records reveals a significant gap between Casey and DeChambeau’s performances. In the 2023 LIV Golf standings, DeChambeau finished fourth with 149 points, while Casey lagged behind in 35th position. Additionally, DeChambeau’s 12 victories, including two US Open titles, overshadow Casey’s 21 wins, which, although impressive, have not yielded the same level of success in recent times. Can Casey close the gap and surpass DeChambeau in the LIV Golf rankings? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.