Reigning U.S. PGA champion Martin Kaymer says Rory McIlroy’s U.S. Open success has inspired him work harder to become a multiple Major winner.
Kaymer arrived back to Germany early Monday morning to begin preparations for this week’s BMW International Open in Munich.
Rory McIlroy's U.S. Open win inspires Martin Kaymer to win more Majors.
The current World No. 4 posted a final U.S. Open round of 71 to finish in a share of 39th place.
While McIlroy’s win was a Congressional cake walk, Kaymer had withstand a Whistling Straits play-off to seal his first Major.
“Seeing Rory playing that well and winning the way he did is inspirational,” said Kaymer.
“I’ve won one Major but the manner Rory won the U.S. Open makes me want to become a better player, and to win more Majors.
“It’s nearly been 12 months since I won the PGA Champ and there’s like a pressure on me to win a second before Rory does.
“The European Tour has been very competitive with Graeme McDowell winning and then Louis (Oosthuizen) and Charl (Schwartzel) and now Rory’s got his hands on a Major trophy the rivalry will become a lot more friendlier.”
And while Kaymer came under even more media focus in winning at Whistling Straits, the Dusseldorf-born player says it’s not unreasonable to label McIlroy ‘the next Tiger Woods’.
“Really it will all depend how Rory sees it because if he does he himself starts talking about being the next Tiger Woods, then it could affect his golf,” said Kaymer.
“But if others like the media are saying it, and if he keeps talking about wanting to win as many Majors as he can, then I can’t see it being any harm to Rory.
“So if he keeps enjoying what he’s doing and keeps working hard on his game, he can aspire to what Tiger’s achieved.
“I know he’s talked about looking forward to the day when he goes head-to-head with Tiger down the last few holes of Major.
“But that’s just Rory because he is an aggressive player and he’s not afraid of failing.
“That’s why, even with such huge lead, he kept playing aggressive over the last round, and that’s what he didn’t do over the final day of the Masters.
“So it was nice to see him win by so many as that’s the way you want to win a golf tournament.”
And with non-Americans having captured nine of the last 16 Majors, Kaymer had a message for his USA-born rivals.
“It’s amazing how the Majors are working out with European Tour members dominating with all four current Major Champions members of the European Tour,” said Kaymer.
“Maybe the Americans need to get out of America more and become more global players.
“We’ve got Dustin Johnson here this week and we’ve had Steve Stricker out in Qatar, and Phil (Mickelson) in Abu Dhabi but they need to get outside of the States more often and experience golf around the world.”
