A solid performance for Paul at the Ballantine’s shooting a consistent sequence of 70-72-70-71 to finish in a tie for 25th place on five under-par, 13 behind the winner Bernd Wiesberger.
Not bad, was his assessment, but he believes he can do a lot better once he manages to shake off the rust.
Paul is now ranked 45th in the world, a long way off his best. And he admitted that his comeback has been difficult.
His first complete round was at the beginning of March at the WGC Cadillac Championship in Florida, where he says he “wanted to come back and get going”.
“It’s been a bit weird because I just don’t have my usual edge. Making some mistakes and the confidence is not quite where it should be,” he said.
But he believes he can soon be climbing back up the rankings.
“It’s just a question now of playing tournaments and getting that edge back.
“I can still have a great year. There’s a lot of season left. Three majors.
“Wouldn’t it be great to look back at the end of this year and go, like, well you got three wins, another win in the US… And to think you dislocated your shoulder in December, you silly idiot.”
Considering the pain when heard his shoulder tore on the slopes, he realises his situation could be a lot worse.
“I heard that slightly horrible sound of something tearing. It’s a weird sort of squelchy noise. The initial thought was I’ve just tweaked something or it’s a little tear,” he said.
“Ten seconds later I go to raise my right arm and I can’t move it. And I’m, like: ‘Oh no, what have I done?’
“So then we’re heading back down the mountain and I’m suddenly in excruciating pain and I can’t move the right arm whatsoever.”
Surgery would have put him out for six months, but luckily it proved unnecessary.
Instead, he underwent intensive physio back in Arizona with Dave Edwards, the head physiotherapist with the Diamondbacks Major League Baseball team.
“He’s rehabbed dozens of shoulders. He was great and yeah, we did it quick. Just a couple of months,” Paul said.
Paul appeared in remarkably good spirits and hopes he can now put the injuries behind him.
“There’s no problems with the rib any more. The foot actually still hurts a little bit but it’s not like it was last year,” he said.
“It hurts walking and when it gets tired and then it can lead to, you know, some bad habits with the golf swing. But the shoulder’s been absolutely fine.”
ICHEON, SOUTH KOREA – APRIL 28: Paul Casey of England in action during the third round of the Ballantine’s Championship at Blackstone Golf Club on April 28, 2012 in Icheon, South Korea. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
