Rory McIlroy is not only an inspiration to a younger generation of golfers but also to his rivals including a former World No. 1 and fellow US Open winner Martin Kaymer.
Kaymer’s struggle to deal with all the attention in the aftermath in capturing the 2010 PGA Championship has been well documented.
The quietly-spoken Dusseldorf-born golfer confessed in also becoming the game’s top-ranked player: “I was surprised about a lot of things. I couldn’t handle a lot of things that happened in Germany, all the attention I was getting after winning the PGA Championship. And then becoming No. 1 in the world, that added another thing. It was too much.”
Martin Kaymer says he is learning from Rory McIlroy how to now better deal all the attention (Photo – David Llody/www.golffile.ie)
However Kaymer has clearly mellowed as evident in his dealings with the media and his adorning German golf fans following his Players Championship success and his stunning Pinehurst triumph.
And helping steer Kaymer through what were once uncomfortable surrounds has been McIlroy.
“Why Rory achieved last year came about because he was on a high, on a roll and I believe he uses the media focus, all the attention in a very, very positive way,” said Kaymer.
“It’s that attention that drives him even more and it’s huge what he has achieved, and he’s used that in such a great positive manner to achieve more success.
“It’s difficult but you have to be that person. I am not saying that you can’t win tournaments not being ‘that’ person but in order to embrace it you need to have that.”
According to his manager, Johan Elliott, Kaymer at the time didn’t feel worthy of his own perception of what a No. 1 player should be, and so he embarked on a technical change to his swing that would allow him to add a draw to his arsenal.
And while the majority of interest this coming April will center on McIlroy’s quest to capture golf’s ‘Grand Slam’, Kaymer will drive down Magnolia Lane looking to embrace his fear of Augusta National.
“When I talk to so many professionals from other sports whether it is footballers, tennis players or skiers because they all say the same thing,” said Kaymer.
“There is a lot of athletes afraid of the attention, afraid of the unknown and that’s why some great athletes that find that situation natural whereas there’s others who want to see how they will feel in getting into that situation.
“So the situation for Rory now is can he win four Majors in a row. It will be more like he will be testing himself rather than comparing himself to others.
“And without being seen as cocky or arrogant you have to lift yourself to a different level because your rivals will be wanting to hold you back.
“So last year Rory was just exceptional. He was doing his own thing and that’s why the victories fell his way.”
And when asked if he likes the smell of fear, the affable German responded: “I do because otherwise I would not won the tournaments I’ve won. But it is a feeling that is tough to learn.”
