US Open Champion Martin Kaymer heads into the first Major of the season believing he now has the game to compete at Augusta National and perhaps complete the third leg of the career grand slam.
His wire-to-wire victory at Pinehust No.2 last year followed his previous success in the 2010 US PGA Championship. That means the German is halfway to winning all four of golf’s major prizes, but he acknowledges a certain Ryder Cup team-mate and world number one is a significant step closer.
"Well, halfway sounds close, but it's still far away," he joked. "Rory (McIlroy) is a lot closer than me. I wish him the best. I hope he can do it. If he doesn't do it this week, I hope he's going to do it in his career. I think it will complete you more as a player.
"For myself, I just hope that I have the chance one day to win the Open and to win the Masters. You can't really predict the outcome but you can work for it to have a chance. And in order to be successful, you just need the chance and you need to be prepared.
"It would be nice if those two things can happen. I know that I'm going to be prepared, but the chance I need."
To that end, Kaymer takes every opportunity to learn from double Masters champion Bernhard Langer - who finished eighth last year at the age of 56 - including during Monday's practice round.
And apart from specific advice on how to play the course, Kaymer also seeks off-course advice too from the former Ryder Cup captain.
"He's so good on the golf course, so I think he's very happy off the golf course," Kaymer added. "So I ask him a lot of questions about different stuff that has something to do with golf, but not playing or the strategy of the golf course and stuff.
He's very experienced and the way he does things, they are very much the way I want to do things.
Martin Kaymer
"We are very similar in that category. And because of his experience, I believe that is the most valuable thing you can give to someone. He's always very open about it. He never holds anything back."
Kaymer missed the cut in his first four appearances and has a best finish of 31st last year, but having revamped his swing to give him a draw as well as his customary fade he is better equipped than ever.
"I never thought I had no chance, but in the past it was a very very tiny chance.
"I played the golf course different. I never hit an 8-iron or 7-iron into the tenth. I always hit a 4-iron or 3-iron because I couldn't get it down on the bottom (of the hill).
"On 13, there was no chance for me to get the second shot on the green. I needed a lot of luck. Now it's a lot different. On certain tee shots that I didn't really fancy in the past, I can make it work. At least I have an option.
"It gives you a relief that you actually can compete with the others now, and it's not as frustrating as it used to be for me."
