Merion is set to provide a “brutal” test of golf in the 113th US Open championship, but Paul Casey was relishing simply being there at all.

Paul was ranked third in the world in 2009 but is currently 168th after struggling with form and fitness, most notably in 2012 after breaking his collarbone while snowboarding. The former Ryder Cup star also missed last year’s US Open with a shoulder injury, but came through qualifying at Walton Heath last month thanks to rounds of 74 and 64.

“I’m very much enjoying this week,” Casey told Press Association Sport. “It’s the first time I’ve had to qualify so I am taking the approach that I am just enjoying playing in another US Open and I worked very hard to get here.”

He added: “I’m hitting it very nicely; the putting when it’s good it’s 64 in the afternoon at Walton Heath and when it’s not, it’s the 74 in the morning. That’s a beautiful example right there.

“If I putt well I know I can shoot a good number round here, if not then we’ll enjoy the week. The game is right there, but until you tee off you really just don’t have a clue.

“It’s a brutal golf course but I can see why they wanted to bring it here (Merion last staged the US Open in 1981). It really is a great test of golf. I do love it.

“You don’t even have to play this at 7,000 yards to make it difficult. (Ian) Poulter hit a driver yesterday on the third (a 256-yard par three) and I ripped a three wood.

“The defence is still on the greens, it doesn’t matter how narrow you make the fairways, somebody will always find them. The defence is on the greens, where they put the pin positions and how firm they get it; the only reason the scores will be low is that we’ve had so much rain leading up to it.”

ARDMORE, PA – JUNE 11: Paul Casey of England looks on during a practice round prior to the start of the 113th U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club on June 11, 2013 in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

After winning back in 2009 Paul is back on the West Course at Wentworth hoping for a good week his first round tees off at 13:15 with Peter Uihlein and Thomas Bjorn.

VIRGINIA WATER, ENGLAND – MAY 22: Paul Casey of England hits an approach shot during the Pro-Am round prior to the BMW PGA Championship on the West Course at Wentworth on May 22, 2013 in Virginia Water, England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Paul is back back competing on the European Tour this week in the Open de España.

Talking recently Paul said “I feel really happy about where I sit right now. I’ve figured a lot of stuff out. The past year or so has been very much a learning curve but I really enjoy my golf right now. My focus isn’t taking the spotlight it’s just winning golf events. I’m one of those players who can react to things, be creative and hit good golf shots. I’ve stood there for quite a while now trying to be correct, trying to set up correct, trying to make a perfect golf swing and getting results that are less than satisfactory. In the past few weeks, I’ve been saying this is absolutely silly. What am I doing? It’s amazing how you can become so blinded and not realise that you are getting in your own way.

VALENCIA, SPAIN – APRIL 18: Paul Casey of England tee’s off at the 18th during the first round of the Open de Espana at Parador de El Saler on April 18, 2013 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

After a narrow victory in Pro Am Paul shared 37th spot for the second week running at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. He started well with a first round of 66 but followed that with 70,73 and 71 to end with a score of -8, Stephen Gallacher was the winner on -22. Paul now has a break before heading to the US in March.

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JANUARY 31: Paul Casey of England in action during the first round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on January 31, 2013 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Paul is hoping he can return to form and set up a top season when he returns to his happy hunting ground of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. Having twice won around the National Course and with a good break Paul is ready to tee up a return to form in Abu Dhabi next week, “Thankfully my shoulder problems appear to be behind me and I’m looking forward to getting out to Abu Dhabi, seeing some familiar faces and putting things back on track,” the 11-time European Tour winner said. “Abu Dhabi has been kind to me throughout my career and it’s just one of those places where things seem to come together. Hopefully I can make some early running and be in contention going down the last few holes.”

Paul finished in tied 19th place at the Hong Kong Golf Club with rounds of 70,71,67 and 67 to finish on -5, Miguel Angel Jiménez was the winner with a score of -15.

Paul Casey of England tees off during the first day of the UBS Hong Kong Open at the Hong Kong Golf Club on November 15, 2012. AFP PHOTO / Philippe Lopez (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Paul’s end-of-season revival continued with this third top ten in a row after finishing tied 10th in the Barclays Singapore Open. He finished on -6 with rounds of 68,73,67 and 70, Matteo Manassero was the winner with a score of -13.

Talking after his first round Paul said: “I’m very happy with that – it’s the first time I’ve played in this kind of humidity for a while.

“Just hanging on to the club with sweaty hands is the biggest problem.

“The golf has been very nice lately and I would love to sneak in a win before the end of the year. This is a difficult set-up – I don’t think there’s a wedge or sand-wedge into any of the par fours and there’s a lot of thick rough. It’s pretty much a ball-striker’s paradise.”

SINGAPORE – NOVEMBER 10: Paul Casey of England plays a shot during the resumption of the rain delayed second round of the Barclays Singapore Open at the Sentosa Golf Club on November 10, 2012 in Singapore. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

A good week for Paul as he recorded his best result of the year finishing in a share of fifth place at the ISPS HANDA Perth International.

With rounds of finishing on 67,75,71 and 67 Paul finished on -8, American Bo van Pelt claimed his maiden Tour title on -16.

Paul surged into the top 10 at the end of the third day and although his late rally came too late for a title challenge it elevated towards the top end of the leaderboard.

Talking about the week Paul said, “I’m happy with that,” said the 11-time European Tour winner. “I got it going today which was nice. I had it going at moments this week – the first day I played nicely and moments in between where I struggled.

“Karrinyup is a fabulous golf course, and if you stay the right side of the hole, you can really take advantage of it. As soon as you get the wrong side it can bite you a little bit, but it’s wonderful to be down playing in front of these crowds, avoiding the kangaroos. It was a lot of fun this week.

“It’s really enjoyable, I love playing in Oz. I’ve had success down here and won tournaments in New South Wales. There is something about being down here; I love the warm weather, and great crowds. They are having a few tinnies up on the balcony this afternoon, but they provide a lot of support and encouragement and I’ve really enjoyed that this week.

“This is the best I’ve felt in probably a few years, and the form is coming around really nicely. The golf I played this week, there are moments of very much the golf I’m capable of.

“With the form I’m starting to show, it’s a case of wanting to be out there, play as much as I can and I feel it’s not going to be long before I’m back in the winner’s circle.”

Winning again is now Casey’s primary focus for the remainder of the season, although he still has plenty of work to do to try and get into the DP World Tour Championship.

“I’m still not in Dubai but the goal is to win before the end of the year – simple as that,” he added. “If I win next week, I don’t know if that gets me in HSBC, it might, I don’t know. A win before the end of the year, because the three I’m playing, BMW, Singapore and Hong Kong, they are all great events, and certainly BMW and Singapore are big money, as well.

“So I think ignore trying to get into Dubai; just try and win. That solves every problem.”

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 20: Paul Casey of England hits his approach shot on the 12th hole during round three of the Perth International at Lake Karrinyup Country Club on October 20, 2012 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

After an injury blighted season to date, Paul Casey believes he is finally on the road to recovery and the Englishman is targeting a strong finish to 2012, starting at this week’s ISPS Handa Perth International.

The former World Number Three dislocated his shoulder in a snowboarding accident last Christmas and his form has understandably suffered as a result of the long rehabilitation process.

But after a morale boosting third place in last week’s Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea, Casey is in the keen to be at the sharp end of the leaderboard once again at Lake Karrinyup Country Club.

“Being in the mix and competing again was fun again,” he said.

“I was frustrated because I had a chance to win and I didn’t win.”

“But I’ve got to remember, I haven’t been in that situation for a few months, so I made a couple of mistakes, but that is fine.”

“I still think I can win a golf tournament or two before the season’s out. But I’m very much looking at the bigger picture of where I’m going.”

He added: ”In hindsight, maybe it’s one of the best snowball crashes I’ve ever had because it allowed me to really de construct my golf game and go through and look at everything and see what I need to do and what I need to work on to be as good a player as I can be.

“This year has been very frustrating, and obviously it was my own fault; but I feel very good sitting here about the way things are going now and the way the future is looking.”

The former Ryder Cup player admits he has put too much pressure on himself this season while battling back from his injury nightmare, and while he was keen to avoid doing the same this week he did state that he felt those competitive juices were flowing again.

“I made a couple of mistakes last week but I feel it,” he said.

“It’s a little bit like riding a bike; I know how to win golf tournaments, and I feel pretty comfortable if I’m I’ve given a chance and I’m standing in the fairway and I have to make a birdie to beat whoever it is in the field, I feel that I have a pretty good chance of pulling it off. Not saying I’m going to do it.

“Obviously I want to come down here and perform well and give myself a chance to win a golf tournament Sunday afternoon. It’s what I want to achieve this week. But I’m not going to hype it up in any way, because I’ve been putting so much pressure on myself, and that that’s been detrimental.

“So the goal is go out there, make a ton of birdies and go out and enjoy myself and have a great time and enjoy the crowds on a great golf course.”

Casey, who had the unusual experience of having his ball stolen by a dog in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship a fortnight ago, finished tied 18th the last time the European Tour visited Lake Karrinyup Country Club for the 2003 Johnnie Walker Classic, finishing 17 shots behind Ernie Els’ European Tour record winning total of 29 under par.

He is looking forward to the challenge of taking on the course again, and is hoping that none of Perth’s resident kangaroos try to replicate the dog’s mischievous antics.

“They have taken a lot of them (the kangaroos) off the golf course. So there was nothing crazy today in the Pro Am,” he joked. “It was a nice chance to see the golf course. I thought it was playing brilliantly. It seems to be in great shape, so all credit to the greens staff

“I hit a couple of loose shots on last couple of holes. But a few birdies, a few bogeys, and was something like even par – I was scratching my head as to how Ernie had 29 under around here. I’m a little bit unfamiliar with the golf course, especially those blind tee shots figuring out where to go and I got a couple wrong today, but my ball striking was pretty good.”

PGA Australia