When discussion arises about the next European golfer to win a major, the names that surface are usually pretty predictable. Garcia, Stenson, Westwood, Casey- so the list usually goes. And while most pundits are proclaiming Rory McIlroy the next superstar of European golf (and rightly so), another youngster has quietly been going about his business, amassing tour wins and Race to Dubai points at a rate few have matched this year. I’m talking about the man that has won the last two events on the European Tour- Martin Kaymer.
I first recall hearing about Kaymer a couple of years ago when he was playing on the EPD Tour in Germany. My Scottish roommate at the time was going through the scores on the various European tours and came across something remarkable. Somebody had shot 59 on the EPD Tour, and it turned out to be Kaymer. After shooting such a low number my roommate and I kept and eye out for his name in various events. A couple of months later we noticed that he had won on the Challenge Tour despite not having a card there at the start of the season. Three months later and he had won again, finished in the top 5 6 times, his worst finish a tie for 13th, and ended the season 4th on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit despite only playing 8 events. “Who was this guy?” we wondered.
Wonder, we no longer do.
In his two and a half seasons on the European Tour Kaymer has made a name for himself as one of the top young players in Europe. Still only 24 years of age, he has recorded 4 tour wins since 2007, been named rookie of year and narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Nick Faldo’s Ryder Cup side.
His performance the past two weeks on tour has sounded his name as one of the favourites for next week’s Open Championship at Turnberry. Kaymer though, is quick to dismiss the claims.
“Last week and this week was a good field already, but next week is going to be the best field that we have this year probably. So I’m really looking forward to next week'” Kaymer said following his victory in Scotland. “I think I’ve been there before, but my manager, he played there a couple of weeks ago and he said it’s going to be really, really difficult, which is always good – if you play Majors, they should be difficult.”
The win has moved Kaymer to second in the Race to Dubai behind Paul Casey and to No. 11 in the world rankings, but most importantly he takes incredible form into Turnberry as he attempts to become the first player in 2009 to record three European Tour wins.
“This week was very special, because I think if you win in the home of golf in Scotland, it’s always something special, and I really enjoyed the last two days,” he said. “Everybody asks me about the third win in a row, but we are playing a Major next week, and the field is going to be the best we have all year long.”
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