Martin Kaymer admitted his first taste of the Old Course at St. Andrews was not a pleasant experience.
However the German tees up as this week’s defending Alfred Dunhill Links champion describing the Old Course, and one of three host venues, as his ‘paradise’.
Martin Kaymer describes the Old Course at St. Andrews as his 'paradise'. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Kaymer’s Scotland success was the fourth of four wins last year but he’s won once this season and that was earlier in the year in capturing the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in the UAE capital.
And helping inspire Kaymer to become the first ever player to retain the gleaming Alfred Dunhill Links trophy is his renewed fondness for famed Old Course.
“When I was an amateur I came here to St. Andrews twice for the British Amateur and for the British Boys, but I didn’t really like links golf at all,” he said.
“I found it quite unfair.
“But then when I played more often in Scotland or in Great Britain , I became a lover of those type of golf courses.
“This is home for me. When I was standing today on the first tee of the Old Course, it felt so peaceful.
“A lot of players, they say the Masters at Augusta is the place that is paradise, but for me St. Andrews is paradise. It is the Home of Golf and it is where I feel the most comfortable.”
But while the Old Course is his favourite, Kaymer still finds Carnoustie a tough challenge despite shooting under par on the County Angus course.
“Carnoustie is definitely the toughest of the three golf courses we’re playing on this week,” he said.
“You can score well at Kingsbarns and St. Andrews if the weatehr is fairly okay. But Carnoustie, if you shoot level par, it’s always a good score there, so definitely it’s the toughest of the three.”
And the experience last year of having his brother Phillip as his amateur partner and his father Horst as caddy, it will be Kaymer’s father, Horst who will this year be his amateur partner.
There’s a good few ‘father and son’ combinations competing this week in Scotland with reigning Masters champion, Charl Schwartzel teaming with his father, George.
Surprisingly, it’s the first time George Schwartzel, a 10-handicapper, has ever competed outside of his native South Africa.
“My dad is very excited and he’s been texting ‘Chubby’ (Andrew Chandler) for about two weeks now, they way they have been winding each other up as they go back a long way,” said Schwartzel.
“It’s the first time for my dad plying overseas.
“We played a practice round on the Old Course and he was in his element. And my advice to him is to just enjoy it.
“For an amateur to play, it’s an experience. It’s just going to come to you and you just have to enjoy the week.”
