MUNICH, Germany (PA) -- On Thursday Paul Casey starts his countdown to next month's British Open -- an event where, in the absence of Tiger Woods, he hopes he can become Britain's first major champion in nine years.

Casey was only 65th at last week's U.S. Open and has never finished higher than 20th in the British Open, but on the eve of the BMW International Open he saw no reason to lower his sights.

"My goal is to win the Open. That was my dream as a kid and that's what I'm working towards -- to get the game in shape," he said. "I think I've got all the shots in the bag, but it doesn't matter how good you hit it if you can't get it in the hole.

"I've changed putters this week. I am a great putter at times and I need to be great all the time," he explained. "It's the same technology as the one I had when I won three times in 2006.

"For some reason I chucked that one and I've no idea why. Hopefully this will turn it around because putting is the one thing holding me back."

Miguel Angel Jimenez, who tied for sixth at Torrey Pines, is favorite, but admits he is suffering badly from jet lag.

"I can only sleep two or three hours on the plane and this morning I cannot wake up -- I am like a tomb on top of the bed," said the Spaniard, who leads the European Tour Order of Merit and is second on the Ryder Cup points table.

Casey is down in 20th spot on that list and stated: "I haven't really looked, mainly because I'm depressed at my position and I don't want to depress myself any further.

"I'm more concerned about my performance. I don't want to be particularly looking at other players and seeing how far ahead they are of me," he added. "I have more than enough motivation -- I don't need to do that. I want to be part of that team desperately. I will change my schedule in the last two or three weeks (of qualifying) if I have to."

Swedes Henrik Stenson and Niclas Fasth, the last two winners of the BMW International title, both missed the cut last week -- Fasth after an 86 that was the worst round of his whole European Tour career.

"I've been struggling with technique and it has not been like I hoped after the winter," said Fasth, who has had nothing better than an eighth place finish all year.

This week's event still has a strong line-up including defending champion Fasth, former winners Colin Montgomerie, Miguel Angel Jimenez, John Daly, David Howell, Thomas Bjorn and Henrik Stenson, plus Retief Goosen, Bernhard Langer and Casey.

Montgomerie also made an early exit from Torrey Pines but was a late arrival in Germany because he participated in the Telus Skins Game in Canada on Monday and Tuesday. Without a top-40 stroke-play finish since January and now outside the top 100 in the world, Montgomerie is in dire need of a return to form if he is to be part of Europe's Ryder Cup side again.

Meanwhile, Ryder Cup hopefuls Luke Donald and Ian Poulter have both pulled out because of the wrist injuries they suffered at the U.S. Open.

Lying tied for 23rd after 14 holes of the final round on Sunday, Donald called for medical attention, but after having his left wrist strapped decided not to continue.

"He had a problem with it all week. It had been feeling sore right from the start and when he teed off on the 15th tee he just felt something go, something pop," said Christian Donald, his brother and caddie. "He immediately alerted tournament officials and told them that he didn't think he could go on. He is not sure exactly what the problem is."

Poulter will also be hoping to return at next week's French Open after quitting 15 holes into his second round at Torrey Pines.

The 32-year-old was 14 over par at the time, having moved the ball just a few feet from thick rough three holes earlier. He triple bogeyed that hole, then had back-to-back double bogeys, the second of them coming when he went to back-hand a tap-in putt and missed it.

"Poults had some issues with his right wrist and you could tell something was wrong because the length of his drives weren't up to his usual standards," said Casey, who was paired with both Donald and Poulter. "He got tangled up in the rough a few times. He apologized and said 'For the best of my health I'm going to have to go in'."

Donald said he had no idea there was a real problem when Poulter told him: "I'm off, goodbye, good luck."

It was a blow to both the players' chances of qualifying for September's Ryder Cup.

Donald lies eighth on the world points list, but only the top five earn automatic selection off that at the end of August. The other five come from a table based strictly on European Tour earnings and because of the time he spends in the States he is only 31st on that.

Poulter, having won in Japan in November to boost his chances of a second berth, is 24th on the European list and 11th on the world list.

Poulter's manager Paul Dunkley said: "Ian's been having problems with ligaments in his wrist for about 18 months now and it flared up again in practice last week.

"His driving stats showed that he wasn't able to hit at full power and it only got worse when he went in the rough. He's had ultra-sound treatment since getting home and it's now wait and see how it responds."

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