May 20, 2015. Martin Kaymer admitted that playing at this week’s BMW PGA Championship, The European Tour’s flagship event, felt like returning home as the reigning US Open Champion aims for a first title since that impressive eight-shot victory at Pinehurst last June.
The World Number 18 arrives on European soil for the first time this season, having enjoyed a strong Desert Swing which yielded top five finishes at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship – where he led going into the final round – and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
Having claimed four top 20 finishes at Wentworth Club in the last seven years, the German is hoping that he can finally put himself into contention over the West Course but, while he feels he is coming into some form, he knows that he must be patient with his game.
“It’s been a long time (since last playing in Europe),” said the 30 year old, who tees it up alongside 2014 Ryder Cup team-mates Rory McIlroy and Jamie Donaldson at 08:35 on Thursday.
“Obviously I played a couple tournaments in the Middle East, in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. But the last time that I was back in Europe, it was probably the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
“It’s even nicer to come back here (to Wentworth), feeling really like home. Even though it’s not my home country, it is where I feel the most comfortable.
“I think it’s normal, when you are in America, you like to play in America but as a European, you like to come here, and especially to the home of The European Tour.
“The last couple weeks I have played well. Obviously a couple things here and there, but that’s normal.
“I said to my caddie yesterday, I’m really excited about the next few weeks and months, because I know things will fall into place sooner or later, and when you practise hard, it’s almost unavoidable to have success. So it will happen, it’s just a matter of being patient, but that is sometimes very difficult for athletes.”
