Martin Kaymer said he’s been revitalised after revisiting Whistling Straits and reliving memories of his stunning 2010 PGA Championship triumph.
Kaymer was a guest of BMW who flew the German by ‘chopper’ to the links like course laid out on the shoreline of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin.
Martin Kaymer returns to competition at this week's Omega European Masters. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
It was Kaymer’s first visit back to Whistling Straits since defeating Bubba Watson in a play-off to capture a first Major Championship.
“I went back to Whistling Straits the Monday after the PGA Championship with three guys from BMW and we played 18 holes which was very nice,” he said.
“It was great going back to the course as it is always going to be special to me for the rest of my career.
“They actually had the same pin positions that we played to on the Sunday of the PGA Championship.
“I was very excited to play, so much so, that after 18 holes I was ready to play another 18. Everyone at the course made me feel very happy and I felt very comfortable going back.”
And delighting Kaymer was the fact he managed to birdie the par three, 12th hole and something he was annoyed that he did not manage to do during the final round of last year’s championship.
“I think I only birdied the hole once during the four days of competition and when I got up to the hole last week, I was very determined to get a birdie, and I did,” he said.
“I hit a nice 5-iron in there to about five feet and managed to sink the putt.”
While at the course, Kaymer and his BMW companions met with course owner, Herb Kohler and had lunch with the bathroom fittings magnate.
Since capturing his first Major, Kaymer has struggled with the reality of being a Major Champion but having revisited the scene of his greatest sporting triumph, the World No. 3 is hoping for a new lease of confidence as he seeks to win for a second occasion this year.
“The success I had at Whistling Straits helped my career so much, and to me, it is one of the best golf courses in the world,” he said.
“So playing there again made me feel inspired to remember what it is like to win a Major tournament.”
Kaymer was speaking ahead of the Omega European Masters in Switzerland where he will play the opening two rounds in the company of Dane Thomas Bjorn and South African Louis Oosthuizen.
