KAYMER RETURNS TO HAPPY HUNTING GROUND FOR BMW OPEN

 

        MARTIN KAYMER .. Home favourite at Munich venue

   Picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c)

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After falling victim to Merion Golf Club at the US Open Championship, Martin Kaymer is relishing his return to more familiar surroundings at this week’s BMW International Open.

Kaymer finished in a tie for 59th place alongside his compatriot Marcel Siem in Pennsylvania, but the Major Champion is confident of bouncing back and regaining his form on a course where he secured an emotional home victory in 2008.   

The 28 year old admits he will need to deal with the expectation which comes with being the home favourite if he is to take the title for a second time in Munich this week; but with ten European Tour titles – including that Major triumph in the 2010 US PGA Championship – to his name, Kaymer is well versed in coping with pressure.

He said: “There’s a little bit more pressure – the expectation from people, and the expectation from yourself. You put a little bit more pressure on yourself, but it’s a fine line to find the combination of using the support from the fans and the spectators, and your own will to win. You put it all together, and try to get a good result.”

The World Number 35 admits it will be difficult to get back into the routine of making birdies after a testing time in the States, but remains hopeful that last week was only a temporary blip.

“It’s very tough, when you come from the US Open. I shot 19 over par, so I can’t tell you I’m playing well because it sounds stupid,” Kaymer continued.

“But I’m not playing badly. When you come from the US Open, you don’t really know how you’re going to play the next week, but today [in the Pro-Am] was fine. I played fairly well and I enjoy the golf course, because I’ve had success here.”

One player who fared better at Merion was Ernie Els, who arrived in Munich buoyed by a tied fourth finish last week. The South African closed with a brilliant one under par round of 69 on Sunday, and now hopes to continue that upward trend in Munich – albeit on a very different course to the one he faced last week.

“I’m really pleased to be back at Munich and to play in the BMW International Open again,” said Els. “Hopefully the course is not as tough as Merion – it will be nice to putt for a birdie now and again.”

“I’ve had a couple of mixed results, but I’ve played well here for the most part. I didn’t play too well a couple of years ago right after the US Open at Pebble Beach, but normally I like it here – partly because if you play half decently, you can putt for a lot of birdies and actually make a score.

“You’ve still got to hit the shots, the course is not going to lie over and die for you. But at least you feel mentally that you’ve got a better chance of being able to score well.

“Hopefully the winning score’s not 20 under par, but it’s going to be low because it’s soft. They have had a lot of rain here, so the course will be soft and when conditions are soft, these guys will make birdies. So I’ve got to try to shoot a 66 every round.”

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