FOR Martin Kaymer, 2016 is a big year. Very big indeed. Last season was a lean one by the lofty standards the two-time Major-winning German has set himself over the course of a glory-laden career. Unusually for Kaymer, he failed to register a win anywhere in the world and lost his US PGA Tour card after missing out on qualification for the FedExCup Play-offs, which caused him to come up two events short of the minimum of 15 required tournaments to retain his full playing privileges.
But with the small matter of the Olympic Games and The Ryder Cup on the horizon this year, Kaymer has bigger things to occupy his mind than his US PGA Tour status. If the coolheaded manner in which the 31-year-old despatched that famous winning putt to complete the Miracle of Medinah and confirm Team Europe as Ryder Cup champions in 2012 taught us anything it’s this: Kaymer is not a player lacking in mental toughness nor is he likely to go into panic mode after one uncharacteristically quiet season.
“To be honest I don’t think there is anything that could come along in my career that would be any bigger than that putt at Medinah,” says Kaymer in my conversation with him at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, scene of his first European Tour victory back in 2008 and two further wins in 2010 and 2011. “Facing a 6-7 footer for such a massive success or loss – the pressure was immense. What I learned from that moment was only positive because I made the putt. It was a good putt, it wasn’t a shaky one. So knowing the way I handled that situation mentally, it was so positive. I took a lot from that.”
Kaymer was required to tap into his reserves of self-belief to recover from the shock of losing a 10-shot lead during the final round in Abu Dhabi last season, which allowed Gary Stal to deny him a record fourth Falcon Trophy, and he believes such low moments are just as important as the highs of Medinah in the continuing evolution of a professional golfer.
“You need to ask yourself the right questions, that’s very important,” he says. “You need to be very honest with yourself, find a solution as to why it happened and find the answers – and I certainly did that.
“Once in a while you do think about it. That’s just human and very normal. But at the end of the day, I don’t want it to overshadow all the success and the great experiences and emotions I’ve had on this golf course. I don’t want that. It was only two hours. I had enjoyed something like 50-55 great hours here at Abu Dhabi before that, so I’d rather focus on that.”
Kaymer’s exploits in Illinois four years ago mean that he’ll forever be associated with the legacy of The Ryder Cup and having been part of the last three victorious European teams, he’s determined to make sure he’s in Darren Clarke’s line-up at Hazeltine National this year.
“The Ryder Cup years, somehow subconsciously, you do a little bit more,” says Kaymer. “When it comes to me, I practice a tiny bit more. I have a little bit more focus on important tournaments that carry more Ryder Cup points. You do think about The Ryder Cup a little bit, it shouldn’t affect you, but it does affect me in a very positive way. Somehow, I motivate myself a little bit more than normal in Ryder Cup years. But I won’t really start thinking about The Ryder Cup until May or June. All the big points are available in the Majors and the World Golf Championships. It’s not always the case that if you win, for example, the Dubai Desert Classic, that you’re guaranteed a spot in The Ryder Cup. You have to win or be very consistent in the big ones.”
Despite the media making much of the loss of his US PGA Tour card, the former World No.1 insists that his 2016 schedule will remain fairly similar to last year’s as he’s allowed to play 12 US PGA Tour events through sponsor’s invites as a non-member, while any additional European Tour appearances he makes will strengthen his bid to be on Team Europe’s flight to Minnesota in September.
“The number of tournaments I’ll play will be the same,” says Kaymer who turned down full membership of the US PGA Tour the year after winning his maiden Major title at the 2010 US PGA Championship and went on to rise to the top of the World Ranking during the 2011 season. “In fact, I could probably play a couple more events in Europe which will be good for Ryder Cup qualification. For me, it’s no big deal. People talk about it more than I think about it.” The question that players are repeatedly asked this season is whether they would rather win a Major or Olympic Gold in 2016. The vast Majority have plumped for a Major – as Rory McIlroy says: “I’ll be remembered for my Major championships.”
Admittedly, Kaymer is in a more privileged position than most of his colleagues, having already tasted Major success twice with his play-off victory over Bubba Watson for the 2010 US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits and his epic eight-stroke victory in the 2014 US Open at Pinehurst. But, nonetheless, he takes a different viewpoint on where his priorities rank this season.
“If hadn’t won two Majors perhaps my opinion on rating Olympic success higher than a Major would be different,” he says. “But I have those Majors and I know what that feels like – and it’s probably the greatest feeling you can have in an individual sport.
“There is so much more history with the Olympic Games. You fight for your country alongside other elite athletes in different sports and you only get the chance once every four years. On Tour we get four chances to win a Major every year. So if you ask me now what would I rather win – it would be a Gold medal.
“I did a charity tournament recently and got to play and hang out with many former Olympic athletes. Being with them, talking about the spirit and the passion of the Olympics has opened my eyes to it and what sport at that level is really all about.”
Despite being unable to take a break for as long as he would have liked during the off season, Kaymer is feeling good as he sets out for his three-way assault on the Olympics, the Majors and The Ryder Cup.
“I’ve been practicing a lot so the key will be how quickly that starts to show in tournament play. This year I’ve had a fairly short winter break because my season last year was fairly long. I played until December 14th. Then I went skiing for five or six days, spent Christmas at home (in Germany) then flew back to Phoenix where I practiced for two weeks. I got back in Dubai to practice for about a week before playing in Abu Dhabi. So it was fairly short in terms of trying to get away from golf.”
His record at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship is widely acknowledged (three wins among six top 10s in 10 appearances, and a tied 16th finish in last month’s tournament) but Kaymer has also racked up four top-five finishes at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, including runner-up in his maiden appearance in 2008, and a couple of top 10s at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. Not surprisingly, he judges the ‘Desert Swing’ to be the ideal platform from which to launch the quest for top honours each season.
“I think a major reason as to why I’ve done so well and why I enjoy playing here – especially in Abu Dhabi and the Dubai Desert Classic – is that the tee shots really suit my eye and I think I can read the greens very well,” he says.
“Now, if you put those two together, hit more fairways and make more putts than usual you’re bound to score well and finish higher up the leaderboard. Coming to the Middle East for these early season events has always helped because when I’ve done well it has justified the hard work and practice that I had done before them. It gives me confidence at the start of the campaign.”
One thing is for sure: Kaymer won’t be wasting any time looking back in anger about the outcome of last season. It’s just not in his nature. Besides, he’s much too busy looking forward to one of the biggest seasons in his career.
WWG: You’ve been using TaylorMade’s M1 driver – how does it compare to the R15 in your opinion?
Martin Kaymer: The M1 has two heads and I’ve tried both the bigger and the smaller heads. I’ve found that the smaller head gives me more control. It doesn’t spin as much so I have more consistency. Yes, it gives me a few more yards in distance, but it’s more important to me to hit a few more fairways. Distance isn’t the No.1 thing when it comes to winning. It’s all about making a few putts. If you watch players like Jordan Spieth, look at his short game. That’s where it’s won and lost.
WWG: Once you’re fitted for a driver do you stay with the same settings or do TaylorMade work on a number of different settings so you can dial it in to the course and the conditions?
Martin Kaymer: I’m fairly simple. Once I find a driver that works I like to keep it. With change often comes doubt. I like to get used to something and work with it.
WWG: What’s the best piece of advice you can give to amateurs who are struggling to gain distance of the tee?
Martin Kaymer: A lot of amateurs try to hit it hard with their arms and their hands but it’s more about working on rotation. Work more on the core and rotation and get the speed through that, rather than trying to get it with your arms and hands.
