Golf: Casey moves to Nike following anti-US remarks

Paul Casey, who found himself in trouble when some comments about Americans took on a life of their own last month, is following Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo in signing for Nike. He will use them in the Sony Open in Hawaii, from January 13 to 16.

It was on the eve of the World Cup in Seville that Casey's anti-American remarks surfaced in the tabloids. Casey, 27, made it clear that when he said he "hated" Americans, he had meant it only in the context of a Ryder Cup week. He said: "How could anyone think I hate Americans when I live over there, pay my taxes over there and have an American coach and an American girlfriend?"

As details of Casey's comments spread, so Titleist, with whom Casey had been involved for four years, suggested they were dropping the player.

Casey insisted that the facts were rather different. The two parties had already agreed on a parting of the ways, the reason being that Casey was looking for a manufacturer to take him to the next level.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY