|
 The double major winner and triple Ryder Cup campaigner was almost
lapping the field at the Abu Dhabi Championship in January when, all
of a sudden, his golfing wheels came off.
Kaymer frittered away shot after shot and was overtaken by Gary Stal
as the unheralded Frenchman produced one of the shock results of
recent European Tour seasons.
"It would be wrong to forget about that because you have to remind
yourself what happened and ask yourself the right questions as to
why it happened," the 30-year-old German told Reuters in a telephone
interview.
"I reflected on it after the tournament when I spoke to a couple of
my friends, my brother and my dad. It's something you have to learn
from.
"The people in my inner circle asked some uncomfortable questions so
I had to be honest with myself and confront the truth about what
really happened and I did," said Kaymer.
"I know what the reasons were and I'm very happy about that because
I will never let it happen again."
Although Kaymer, who showed nerves of steel to sink a six-foot putt
that won the Ryder Cup for Europe in 2012, has come to terms with
his Middle East meltdown he is keeping quiet about the causes.
"I could tell you what the reasons were but I don't want to talk
about it, I want to keep them to myself," he said.
"I believe if you talk about it people will make more out of it and
maybe make things worse and maybe change things the way they are for
me now.
TOO VALUABLE
"I don't think it's necessary to talk about it because it's too
valuable to me to share it with the public.
"It was another experience to add to my overall professional
career," said Kaymer. "Of course I could've picked up a trophy and a
bit more money but that experience I gained will last a little bit
longer and will help me more in the future."
The immediate future for Kaymer is built around preparations for the
opening major championship of the year, the U.S. Masters at Augusta
that starts on April 9.
[to top of second column] |
The 2014 U.S. Open winner is also relishing the thought of going
back to two special venues for the British Open in July and the U.S.
PGA Championship in August.
"St Andrews, for me, is the most peaceful place in the world to
play," said Kaymer who is a golf brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz,
a global partner of the U.S. Masters.
"It just makes you feel comfortable as soon as you arrive at the Old
Course Hotel and they are playing music on the bagpipes there. It's
pure harmony and peace.
"Since I won the 2010 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship there I have
been really wishing that one day I can have the chance to win the
British Open there too," explained Kaymer.
"Winning the Open at St Andrews would be one of the biggest things
for me to achieve in my career."
The Whistling Straits course on the shores of Lake Michigan also
holds a deep meaning for Kaymer because that is where he landed his
first major title -- the 2010 U.S. PGA Championship.
"That's like a British course but with good weather," he laughed.
"It's very linksy in style with beautiful scenery.
"That win I had was, at the time, the biggest of my career. It was
my first win in America and my first major so it's a place I have a
special bonding with."
(Editing by Pritha Sarkar)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
