Paul Casey (Stats | Bio) doesn't act like a Masters Tournament rookie. Maybe he did for a second in Thursday's first round, on his way to shooting 75 that left him in a tie for 44th place.

But he never got worried, never got nervous. He's impressed, but not awed, by the golf course.

That, of course, is his grand plan: to stay relaxed and remain cool.

Instead of worrying about his driver or thinking about his short game, he expressed concern Saturday about how his pingpong game was coming along. He knew he would have to come in confident to beat his buddies that night in their weeklong tournament.

That's what he worried about after he completed his 4-under-par 68 in Saturday's third round. That's how he's stayed loose this week.

Well, that and deciding whether he should play the theme to Caddyshack or the Bee Gees tune Tragedy while driving down Magnolia Lane today.

"I've just approached this differently than how I've approached other majors in the past," said the native of England, who will enter the final round two shots off the lead.

"I've put too much pressure on myself in the past. I've almost tried too hard."

Not trying too hard has led to impressive results the past two days.

Over the tournament, he's hit 22 of 28 fairways and 27 of 36 greens in regulation. His score also has dropped dramatically.

Saturday's round - which he began at even-par - was his most impressive yet.

Although he said he started shaky, he made two par saves on Nos. 1 and 2 before birdieing Nos. 3, 5, 7 and 9. His confidence soared; his worries never surfaced.

"It's the first time this week I had a couple of kicking birdies," said Casey, who had a 303-yard driving average Saturday, the second-best in the field. "It gave me some confidence. It's good to be in that position."

Casey talked Saturday about watching Europeans such as Sandy Lyle (Stats | Bio) while growing up. On No. 18, he acted a little like Lyle, the 1988 Masters champion from Scotland.

Stuck in the fairway bunker, Casey used a 7-iron to blast the ball to within four feet and finished his day on an upswing.

"(In the bunker), I was thinking, 'Wow, I've got a 7-iron and that's what Sandy Lyle (Stats | Bio) used to hit out of the bunker to win in the '80s,' " Casey said.

"In England, they're looking for another Masters champion. I would dearly love to fill that slot," he said.

If you listen to what playing partner Mark O'Meara (Stats | Bio) says, it could happen for the 26-year-old today.

"I was very impressed with his game," O'Meara said. "He's a very good young player. There's not a reason he can't do well if he manages his emotions."

Casey's emotions likely will be fine.

"It was just a fun round of golf," he said.

Reach Josh Katzowitz at (706) 823-3216 or josh.katzowitz@augustachronicle.com.