Casey highlights new majors belief

MUNICH, June 20 (Reuters) Paul Casey's disappointment in only finishing tied for 10th in last week's US Open shows how his philosophy on winning majors has changed, the Briton said today.

''At this stage last year I really wasn't ready to win a major,'' Casey told reporters on the eve of the Munich Open.

''I am more accepting of everything that goes on to win a major before you actually win one. I am accepting of that now and I want to win one.

''In this year's Masters and US Open I finished 10th in both and I'm disappointed with both finishes - and that's a good sign.

''Two years ago if I finished 10th I would be over the moon.'' Casey said it would be ''very nice'' to be the first of Britain's new generation of potential major champions, beating the likes of Luke Donald and Nick Dougherty to the post.

His desire, though, may have worked against him, he said.

''It's trying to find the balance between trying to win a major and wanting to win it too badly.

''There was lot of talk about what happened in the first round last week. How come I could shoot 77 and then 66? ''Maybe I was trying too hard because I had a poor first round in the Masters as well.'' Casey takes on two players in Munich who finished above him at Oakmont, Swede Niclas Fasth in fourth place and Dougherty, seventh.

International holder Henrik Stenson, though, missed the cut in America. The Swede, who said his game is not in good shape at the moment, may have to pull out during this week's event if his wife Emma gives birth to their first child.

Ernie Els, who finished tied 51st in the US Open, is also in the field at Eichenried, which has been toughened up for this week's event with fairways as narrow as Oakmont.

Eight-times European number one Colin Montgomerie, who missed the cut at Oakmont, is also in the field.

Bernhard Langer, 49, tries once again to win the only German title he has not held.

Former winner John Daly, suffering well-publicised marital problems, has withdrawn for personal reasons.

Reuters TB DB2108