England's Paul Casey may not be eligible for next week's Ryder Cup, but the "weird" feeling of watching the biennial contest could be eased by having an extra 11.5million US dollars (£8.8million) in his bank account.
Casey, who is based mainly in Arizona, gave up his European Tour membership after deciding to concentrate on the PGA Tour in order to get back into the world's top 50.
The move has paid off with the former world number three climbing from 75th at the end of last season to his current position of 15th, but even a change in membership criteria was not enough to persuade the 39-year-old to rejoin the Tour and attempt to qualify for Darren Clarke's side.
Asked ahead of the Tour Championship if he would miss being part of next week's clash at Hazeltine, Casey said: " Of course, yes. I don't want to talk about it, but yes. That's going to be. it's a weird one."
Casey played in the record nine-point wins in 2004 and 2006 and Europe's last attempt to claim an unprecedented four straight victories at Valhalla in 2008, but was in tears after being overlooked for a wild card by captain Colin Montgomerie in 2010, when he was ranked seventh in the world.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Tour Championship, the 39-year-old added: "In the past, when I've missed a Ryder Cup because I haven't qualified, or I've not qualified for the Masters and I've sat back and I've watched those events, you watch them with a sense of I wish I was there, but I had my opportunity and I didn't get there. That's one thing.
"So maybe watching the Ryder Cup next week because I'm not eligible. maybe I'll have the same kind of feeling. Yeah, it hurts a bit more."
Casey at least has plenty to occupy his mind in Atlanta, where a ny of the 30 players in the field can theoretically win the 10million US dollars (£7.7million) bonus for lifting the overall FedEx Cup title, but only the top five are assured of doing so by claiming the 1.5million US dollars (£1.1million) first prize at East Lake.
Casey is ranked fifth behind Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Adam Scott and Jason Day after finishing second in the last two play-off events and another second place on Sunday could even be enough to succeed Jordan Spieth as the winner of the biggest prize in golf.
The Tour Championship also marks the last chance for American players to make their case for the final Ryder Cup wild card available to captain Davis Love, who will announce his selection during half-time of the NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears on Sunday evening.
Six members of the team practised at Hazeltine on Monday and were notably joined by the three favourites for that wild card, namely world number seven Bubba Watson, Justin Thomas and Daniel Berger.
All three are in the field at East Lake, where the players will tee off in order of their FedEx Cup ranking and where the front nine and back nine have been reversed to make the ninth a par three and the 18th a reachable par five.
Casey will play the first round alongside four-time major winner Rory McIlroy, with Scotland's Russell Knox - who was overlooked for a Ryder Cup wild card - alongside defending champion Spieth.
Source: PA
