German Ryder Cup hero, 31 today!

Two times Major winner and Ryder Cup hero in 2012, Martin Kaymer, celebrates his 31st birthday today.

 

For Dutch golf fans, he was a popular winner of the KLM Open in 2010 when he travelled the few hours from his home in Mettmann, Germany to the Dutch Open venue at the Hilversum Golf Course. The young German made his Ryder Cup debut later that year after a sensational season on the European Tour which included 4 titles, one of which was his first Major, the US PGA Championship. He went on to win the ‘Race to Dubai’ final rankings with nearly 4.5 million euros in official prize money. In doing so, he became only the second German after Bernhard Langer to become European Number One.

 

 

Knocking Luke Donald off World Number One spot

 

It came as little surprise. The young player had been in hot form for some time. A year earlier, he had amassed nearly three million euros in prizemoney to finish third in the Race to Dubai. In 2011, he came third again. Not only that, he knocked England’s Luke Donald off the World Number One spot for eight weeks in 2011.

 

Although, by his own high standards, his game cooled off for the next couple of seasons, Martin had a return to top form in the summer of 2014 when he won the US Open. With his second Major title came the biggest prize cheque of his career: the equivalent of 1,199,804 euros.

 

Last season, he finished 22nd in the Race to Dubai which, oddly enough, actually earned him 255,094 euros less for the whole season playing in 21 tournaments on the European Tour than he earned in just one tournament in 2014 with his victory in the US Open.

 

 

Kaymer signs for a sweet 59

 

Born in Düsseldorf, Germany, Martin turned pro in 2005 with a handicap of plus 5. A sign of the lucrative professional career ahead of him came early when he shot a round of 59 on the EPD Tour in the Habsburg Classic in 2006. Undeterred by a bogey on the second hole in the second round, he went on to make 12 birdies and an eagle before signing for a 59. With an incredible 54-hole score of 27 under par, his victory was sweet with a 10-shot lead.

 

Martin continues to remind himself of that magical round by marking his golf balls with an inspiring ‘59’. His good luck trick has worked wonders for him. The 31-year old’s career earnings to date on the European Tour total nearly 19 million euros.

 

With the New Year just a few days away, all eyes next season will be seriously focused on the Ryder Cup selection for September.  Martin has made three Ryder Cup appearances in the biennial match against the Americans so far. Can he make it a fourth in 2016? Only time will tell, until then …

 

 

Happy Birthday, Martin!

 

Wendy Hoad

 

 

Pictured:  Martin Kaymer during the 2015 KLM Open at the Kennemer G&CC.  Photography by Golfing Inspirations.