German Martin Kaymer says Tiger Woods decision to contest next year’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship will add ‘spice’ to the event.
Both former World No. 1’s will commence their 2012 season in the UAE capital with Kaymer a three-time winner of the European Tour event, and Woods to make his debut on the Abu Dhabi National course.
Martin Kaymer shoots an equal course record 64 and then is presented with 'Shot of the Month' for November 2011. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“It’s good for Tiger he’s playing next year in Abu Dhabi and when I saw that news it was exciting,” said Kaymer.
“It’s great for the region because he has played many times in Dubai and won the Desert Classic and now he’s coming to Abu Dhabi.
“Lee Westwood and myself played with Tiger for two rounds in Dubai this year and it was fun, and hopefully I will get paired with him again in Abu Dhabi.
“It’s great for the Abu Dhabi tournament Tiger is playing for a first time as it’s one of the great tournaments we have on the European Tour schedule.
“So it’s brilliant that he’s coming back over to this part of the world to play Abu Dhabi.
“Tiger’s appearance will add that little bit of extra spice to the event and to see him his own event last week was special and everyone is pleased he has broken that long drought of not winning.
“It was just a matter of time before he wins again so it’s going to be good to start the New Year with Tiger in the field in Abu Dhabi.”
Also set to make his debut in Abu Dhabi is Australian and current World No. 8 Jason Day.
Kaymer ended his third round of the Dubai World Championship in spectacular fashion holing a bunker shot for eagle at the last in a course record equaling 64 for an eight-under par tally.
Prior to the bunker shot, the current World No. 4 recorded six birdies after earlier rounds of 73 and 71.
“The bunker shot was a good one and it ended a good round,” he said.
“I hit a lot of good shots today and still had a number of other chances for birdies but overall to shoot eight under par, especially with the bunker shot on 18, it’s been a brilliant round.”
And out supporting Kaymer was leading German woman player Martina Erbel-Ellis, a three-time winner on the European Ladies Tour, and who is now a teaching pro in Munich after giving birth a year ago to her first child.
As well, England’s Melissa Reid, a double Tour winner this season and who was also a member of the victorious European Solheim Cup team.
Reid is in Dubai for next week’s Dubai Ladies Master and an event she finished third a year ago.
“I did see Martina out there today but didn’t get to talk her of course, as I was more focused on what I was doing,” said Kaymer.
“But it’s nice to see her out here supporting me and there was a lot of German’s following us today.
“Melissa Reid was out here to and that was nice as she’s got a big event here in Dubai next week.
“I have accepted that I do have a role as a standard bearer for German golf now, and there is a point where you have to accept it and I am very glad I am in that position.”
