MARTIN Kaymer is hoping to continue his strong start to the 2020 Race to Dubai as he makes his debut at the Oman Open this week.
The German has finished in the top 20 in his three events so far as he looks to change his consistency of the last two seasons into the sort of form that made him the best in the world at the start of the last decade.
The 35-year-old already has a career that would stand up in any era, winning the Race to Dubai and two Major Championships.
He also reached No. 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings and holed the vital putt as Europe completed the Miracle of Medinah in the 2012 Ryder Cup – an event he would like to feature in in Wisconsin, in September, for obvious reasons.
After changing the trajectory of his driving to get more length off the tee, Kaymer has now turned his attention to his putting in his quest for a first win since the 2014 US Open at Pinehurst – happy that he has on old friend back on the bag as well.
The player who won his first ever Challenge Tour event in 2006, is focused on doing the work to get back to the top, starting this week at Al Mouj Golf.
Kaymer said: “I was just going with the flow the last two or three years and took my game for granted a little bit.
“I didn’t really work on one specific thing and the last few years it was quite clear where my weakness was in my game as I was losing a lot of shots on the green.
“Outside 10 feet I couldn’t make a putt and that led to me not scoring and shooting those low scores that give you an opportunity on the Sunday.
“I worked a lot on the short game over the winter and I also wanted to drive the ball further without screwing up my natural shot, and that takes some planning and communicating with the coach.
“For me, it was more of the mentality of continuing that process as I knew what the other outcome was and that didn’t quite work out for me the last two years.
“I wanted to and needed to change something and become an even more complete player to try and win tournaments again,” added Kaymer, who has also reunited with his old caddy Craig Connelly.
“I really miss that feeling,” Kaymer added. “This year I have a very good plan and I’m trying to qualify for all the big events such as the Ryder Cup, Olympic Games, Masters and The Open Championship.
“I’ve played in all those events before, but this year that’s not going to be the case so it’s something I’m looking forward to try and achieve.
“I can’t really tell you where my game is at right now, which is the exciting thing.” said Kaymer, whose second Major win came in that US Open victory at Pinehurst.
“I know I’m doing the right thing but I’ve just got be patient and let it happen.
“The expectations are quite high because you’re doing everything right and hitting 63 in a practice round.
“But you still need to do that in a tournament so it’s just a matter of time.”
Kaymer is convinced Connelly’s return will help that process.
“It’s nice once you’ve found somebody that you’ve been through the good and the bad times with” he revealed.
“More of the good times really, because we started working together in 2010 and I had a good few years – and he really understands me as a person.
“It’s more about the personality and finding someone that you get along with, understands you and what your goals are.
“He understands that and knows what I’m capable of so it’s nice to be reminded of that sometimes as you forgot.”
“We tend to focus on the things that we aren’t doing great,” said the winner of the 2010 USPGA at Whistling Straits – the venue for the 2020 Ryder Cup.
“But sometimes you need to be reminded of what you have already done in your career and good of a player you are.
“He is a very positive person and that has really helped me,” said Kaymer.
•To follow live scoring in the first round in Oman, click here.
