The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Break over as Kaymer targets KLM Open title
GOLF: Clubs were put away for five weeks but German is back and fully refreshed
A refreshed Martin Kaymer is targeting a second KLM Open title after taking one of the longest breaks of his career.
Kaymer has not played competitively since the start of August after suffering the disappointment of failing to qualify for the Open Championship and, as first reserve, waiting all day in vain for a late withdrawal at Royal Portrush.
The two-time major winner then finished 31st in the Barracuda Championship on the PGA Tour and missed the cut in the Wyndham Championship before putting away his clubs for five weeks.
“I needed a break after that super, super busy summer of going from one tournament straight to another and I couldn’t prepare for tournaments anymore,” the Ryder Cup star said.
“I took five weeks off because my brother got married two weeks ago and a good friend of mine got married last week. The first three weeks I didn’t really play golf at all but then the last two weeks I’ve prepared a little bit for the rest of the season.
“It was such a nice feeling to get away from the golf course and then look forward to seeing everybody and play the game.”
Kaymer won the KLM Open – which this year celebrates its 100th edition – at Hilversum in 2010 four weeks after claiming his maiden major title in the US PGA Championship, but has not tasted victory since winning the 2014 US Open.
“I really enjoyed Hilversum and 2010 was a great year in general for me, winning my first major and winning so close to home,” Kaymer added.
“It is one of those tournaments that I really enjoy because I can drive home (to Mettmann, Germany) whenever I have a late tee time the next day. I will stay at my own place and it is very comfortable.”
Kaymer is not the only major champion in the field at The International in Amsterdam, with former Masters winners Sergio Garcia and Patrick Reed also competing.
Garcia, who is hoping to follow fellow Spaniards Seve Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano in lifting the trophy, said: “It was extra special this week being 100 years and with the connection to Seve, so it fitted nicely into the schedule.”
It was such a nice feeling to get away from the golf course and then look forward to seeing everybody and play the game. MARTIN KAYMER