Paul Casey
A powerful ball-striker from England who reached the world's top three and became a formidable force in international team golf.
Born 1977 (age 49)·English professional golfer·Birthday: July 21·Generation X
Biography
Paul Casey's golf has always been defined by a potent, aggressive swing and a competitive fire that sometimes simmered just beneath a reserved exterior. The Surrey-born player dominated the US collegiate circuit at Arizona State University, turning professional in 2000 and quickly making his mark in Europe. His breakthrough came with a string of wins in the mid-2000s, but his 2009 season was stellar: he won the BMW PGA Championship, reached a career-high world ranking of third, and memorably went 4-0-1 in his Ryder Cup debut at Valhalla. Injuries later disrupted his momentum, but Casey fought back, adding PGA Tour victories in his late 30s and becoming a respected elder statesman in the European Ryder Cup team room, known for his fierce foursomes partnerships. His move to LIV Golf in 2022 marked a late-career shift, but his legacy is that of a world-class talent who delivered in the sport's biggest team arena.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Paul was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Paul Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Paul's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Reached a career-high of World Number 3 in the Official World Golf Ranking in 2009.
- Won the European Tour's flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship, in 2009.
- Represented Europe in four Ryder Cup teams (2004, 2006, 2008, 2018), contributing to three victories.
- Has won 21 professional tournaments worldwide, including three on the PGA Tour.
- Was the first player to successfully defend the title at the Valspar Championship on the PGA Tour (2018, 2019).
Did You Know?
He was a three-time first-team All-American while playing golf at Arizona State University.
He once made a hole-in-one on the 14th at Augusta National during the 2018 Masters.
He is an avid fan of motorsport and owns a collection of classic and racing cars.
He played in the 2007 Presidents Cup for the International team before becoming ineligible after joining LIV Golf.
He was the first Englishman to win the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship.
“I'm not interested in second place. I play to win.”
