Martin Kaymer’s Golf Journey: Triumphs, Reflections, and Aspirations at Pinehurst
At 33, Martin Kaymer reflects on his past triumphs and challenges in golf, candidly sharing his journey from victory to setbacks. As he returns to Pinehurst with renewed determination, Kaymer is focused on adding to his major wins and reigniting his winning ways.
BBC Golf: Martin Kaymer Reflects on Pinehurst Triumph and a Decade of Ups and Downs
At just 29 years old, Martin Kaymer had already etched his name in golf history as a two-time major winner, former world number one, and the man who secured the winning point for Europe in the 2012 Ryder Cup. However, a decade later, the German finds himself heading back to the scene of his dominant US Open victory at Pinehurst with no further accolades to add to his impressive CV.
When asked if he ever envisioned such a scenario, Kaymer candidly admitted, “I would have laughed probably. I wouldn’t have believed you.” The 33-year-old expressed surprise at his inability to win more tournaments, acknowledging, “I’m actually a bit surprised as well that I haven’t won. I had many chances between 2014 and 2019. I had so many chances to win golf tournaments – for several different reasons I didn’t.“
“That was pure ignorance and arrogance from myself. I was leading by 10 and then I made a double bogey and triple bogey and stuff.”
One of those reasons was a wrist injury that Kaymer wishes he had addressed through surgery sooner. However, the biggest blow came in the final round of the 2015 Abu Dhabi Championship, where he squandered a six-shot lead on the final day, ultimately finishing third. Kaymer openly admits,
Despite the setbacks, Kaymer remains optimistic about his future, stating, “Mentally I’m ready to win again. I don’t know if it will happen soon or maybe I need to wait another year, but I’m not stopping chasing that win. There’s nothing holding me back now.“
Reflecting on his memorable 2014 season, which saw him win the Players Championship and US Open in a five-week span, Kaymer acknowledges the challenge he faced in maintaining that level of dominance. “Obviously it surprised me as well but the key to those two rounds was definitely how well I putted,” he recalled.
As Kaymer looks to rekindle his winning ways, he will return to the familiar grounds of Pinehurst, where he once left the field trailing in his wake. Despite the course’s reputation for challenging conditions, Kaymer feels the firm greens and crowned surfaces will still provide a stern test, saying, “I did an interview Tuesday or Wednesday after my practice round and I said that the winning score would probably be two or three over par.“
With a renewed sense of focus and determination, Kaymer is eager to add to his major championship tally, stating, “I’m very happy with my career, and I know why I haven’t been on top of the leaderboard the last three, four years, but now I can focus on all the good stuff again.“
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