Casey lands title and one million pounds jackpot

VIRGINIA WATER, England, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Britain's Paul Casey pocketed one million pounds, the richest first prize in golf, after destroying American Shaun Micheel 10&8 in the final of the World Match Play today.

Casey joined an elite group of debut winners of the championship including Ernie Els (1994), Greg Norman (1980), Bill Rogers (1979), Isao Aoki (1978), Hale Irwin (1974) and Tom Weiskopf (1972).

His victory in his mini-Ryder Cup contest with Micheel gave the 29-year-old Englishman a perfect fillip ahead of the biennial team event which starts on Friday at the K Club in Ireland.

Consolation for 2003 U.S. PGA champion Micheel, who defeated world number one Tiger Woods in the opening round, was a runners-up prize of 400,000 pounds.

REUTERS AY VC2115