Sep 22, 2016: Martin Kaymer is relishing the challenge of taking on the Beckenbauer Course at Golf Resort Bad Griesbach for the first time when he tees it up for the opening round of the Porsche European Open, after heavy flooding forced the cancellation of the practice round as well as the Pro-Am.
It will be a unique scenario for many of the players in Germany this week, including the two-time Major champion and home favourite Kaymer, to be teeing it up on the first day’s play having never struck a single shot in anger on the Bernhard Langer-designed lay-out.
“Last year I couldn’t play this one, we have only two tournaments in Germany unfortunately so last year I played in Munich and this year I thought, because I had heard a lot of good things about the Porsche European Open, why not go there this year.
Obviously I didn’t know I was going to be in The Ryder Cup at that stage, but I talked to Bernhard Langer about this event and I heard so many positive comments so I thought ‘let’s give it a go”, said Kaymer.
Players were given permission to walk the course and test some greens on the eve of the event but it is a task the players are relishing, with defending champion Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand confident that he can carry the momentum from last year’s victory and rekindle his form.
“It’s nice to be back here again. I love to be here, this is one of my favourite tournaments. Obviously I won last year and I remember it well.
I wasn’t driving well last week and that’s why I couldn’t make the score. I think this week it will be different because I have been practicing a lot with my driver and with my irons. I think I will be better this week. We’ve been working a lot on it and testing some Titleist clubs, working on my feeling coming back and hopefully it will work this week.”, said Jaidee.
Padraig Harrington, meanwhile, was quick to point out that the last event which he started without having played the course in the lead-up was The 2008 Open at Royal Birkdale, where he successfully defended the Claret Jug.
“I’ve played well in Germany over the years. I’ve won the old TPC here, I’ve won the Linde German Masters, I came close in the BMW and I came close in the old German Open. It would be nice to try and add the Porsche European Open”, said Harrington.
The Irishman is joined in the field by fellow two-time Open Champion Ernie Els of South Africa, who plays his first regular European Tour event since February, while Belgium’s Thomas Pieters joins Kaymer in making this event his last before heading to Hazeltine for next week’s Ryder Cup.
European Tour Release
