Kaymer happy to take back seat in build-up

Martin Kaymer is happy to fly under the radar as he looks to become the first player to win backto-back US Open titles since Curtis Strange in 1989.

The German left the field in his wake when claiming his second major title at Pinehurst 12 months ago, setting a tournament record of 130 with opening rounds of 65 and eventually winning by eight shots.

It was his second wire-to-wire victory of the season after he led from start to finish in the Players Championship at Sawgrass, while he also helped Europe retain the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

However, after blowing a 10shot lead in the Abu Dhabi Championship in January and finishing fourth a fortnight later in Dubai, Kaymer has missed the cut in four of his nine events with a best finish of joint 18th in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

And with Phil Mickelson seeking a win at Chambers Bay to complete the career grand slam, Masters champion Jordan Spieth targeting a second major win in succession and world No 1 Rory McIlroy in the spotlight, Kaymer has taken something of a back seat in the build-up.

“A lot of times I’m under the radar, I feel like, which is fine,” Kaymer said.

“Obviously the other guys, they should get a lot of credit for what they have done.

“Jordan, what he has done this year (in the Masters), probably must have felt for the others how I played Pinehurst.

“It was impressive to watch that he didn’t miss many putts.

“He played still very aggressively down the stretch the last few holes.

“Then what Rickie (Fowler) did at the Players, how bravely he played.

“And then obviously Rory and those guys they’re all four or five years younger than me, so they should get the credit for what they have achieved.

“My win was already 12 months ago. So I think what they’ve done more recently is more important than my win last year.”