Kaymer wants to hear the skirl of the pipes again!

By SARAH GWYNN

European Tour Press Officer
Germany's Martin Kaymer is a young man more than used to achieving golfing firsts and the talented German will attempt yet another when he defends his title in The Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond next week.
When Kaymer took the title on the Bonnie Banks 12 months ago at the age of 24 years and 196 days, he not only became the youngest player in history to win The Barclays Scottish Open, he also became the first player since Ian Woosnam in 1990 to win the two events prior to The Open Championship having triumphed in the Open de France Alstom the week before he arrived at Loch Lomond.
Now, on his return to Loch Lomond, Kaymer will attempt to become the first player to win the prestigious title two years in a row.
Ernie Els has won twice at Loch Lomond – in 2000 and 2003 – and Ian Woosnam took the title on three occasions when it was staged at The Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire and Carnoustie in the 1980s and 1990s. However, neither the South African nor the Welshman won in successive seasons.
“To win back to back felt really great and I will do everything I can to win The Barclays Scottish Open again,” said Kaymer, who has added to his European Tour title haul already this year with victory in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in January. “I was in good form and played very solidly last year. I made no big mistakes and my short game was good too – hopefully it will be the same again this year.
“To win in Scotland, the home of golf, was very special to me. I really enjoyed it, especially the last two days. Those two days were amazing, the field was good and the spectators really supported all the players – it was unbelievable.”
Kaymer’s golden two week spell last July netted him €1,246,000 in prize money alone, took him over the €4 million mark in European Tour earnings from just 70 events, and provided the platform for his eventual third place finish in the inaugural Race to Dubai.
However, there was one further aspect of the week at Loch Lomond that the German is keen to hear once again and that is the distinctive sound of the bagpipes which traditionally heralds the winner down from the castle ruins behind the 18th green to the presentation ceremony.
“I remember after making the last putt the bagpipes suddenly started to play,” he said. “I loved that and having the piper lead me down to the green made it even more special. The sound of the bagpipes is the memory that comes into my head whenever I think of the Scottish Open.”
Golf fans keen eager to catch a glimpse of Kaymer’s title defence against an international galaxy of golfing stars in The Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond can purchase discounted tickets at: www.barclaysscottishopen.co.uk