England's Paul Casey set his sights on the Ryder Cup and next year's Majors after putting a woeful spell behind him with victory at the Volvo China Open.

Casey, 28, won the TCL Classic in March but then tumbled down the rankings as he reached a staggering 61-over-par in 11 rounds of golf, pulling out of the US Open after a first-day 85.

However, the 2004 WGC World Cup champion was third in the European Masters in September and seventh at the HSBC Champions tournament before coming from nowhere here for his fifth European Tour win.

The $1,3-million (about R9-million) China Open was the second event on the 2006 European schedule and third-last on this year's Asian Tour. Casey, who began the tournament ranked 61, is now hoping to break back into the top 50 to qualify for the majors and has his heart set on a return to the Ryder Cup team.

"I have said many times that I struggled over 2005 but when the Ryder Cup points started in Switzerland it felt like a fresh start and even teeing it up in the HSBC felt like a clean slate," he said.

"In 2005 I fell behind guys on the money list and it was just a little bit frustrating really so it's nice to have a clean start and I feel very energised about everything.

"Wiping the slate clean and having a fresh start did seem to change my game around completely."

Casey, a wild-card entry who went on to star in the last Ryder Cup with four out of five points, said appearing at Ireland's K Club next year was one of his top ambitions.

"Last time I accomplished it without winning events but this time it's a huge goal," he said. "Ireland will be massive, the last time out was an unbelievable experience and I've never played anything like it before.

"It's addictive and I want to make sure I'm at the K Club but I have to go about it the right way and win golf events."

However, Casey will want to keep his counsel if he makes the team. He was targeted by American fans after saying Europe "properly hate" the US players and "the vast majority of Americans simply don't know what's going on".

Casey started the last round here five shots off the pace but shot a course record-equalling 65 to set up a dramatic play-off victory over compatriot Oliver Wilson.

Wilson, 25, was a shot up with two holes to go but bogeyed the 17th while mistakenly gunning for birdie.

"Seventeen was the one. If I had parred that, it would have been safe and I didn't know at the time and I was trying to make birdie," he said.

Wilson then went to pieces on the first play-off hole, landing in two bunkers for bogey while Casey coolly took a birdie. - Sapa-AFP