When confirmation of Martin Kaymer’s ascent to World Number One came in the decisive form of victory over Bubba Watson in the WGC-Accenture Match Play last Saturday, it was a symbolic moment for German golf.
The torch, carried with such dignity and class by one great German golfer in Bernhard Langer, was passed to a young man more than half his age, but who is proving equally capable of being a worthy standard bearer for many years to come.
And no-one in the world of golf is more delighted than Langer, who has nurtured, encouraged and supported Kaymer since the days five or six years ago when word began to filter back to Langer in his Florida base of some remarkable happenings among the lower ranks of professional golf in his homeland.
“I first became aware of Martin some time around 2005 or early 2006,” recalled Langer, who won 42 times on The European Tour and recently notched up his 14th success on the US Champions Tour since turning 50 in 2007.
“I heard from my brother, Erwin, and my daughter, Jackie, who was at the time helping to run some events on the European Professional Development (EPD) Tour of this young guy shooting ridiculous scores. That in itself isn’t remarkable, but what was unusual was that he was following up 61s with 63s or 63s with 62s and blowing the field away on a regular basis. He seemed to be dominating the EPD Tour.”
The young man in question was, of course, Kaymer, who first made Langer’s acquaintance during the Deutsche Bank Players’ Championship of Europe in Hamburg in July 2006. Kaymer shot 69 and 73 at Gut Kaden to miss the cut on his first professional appearance on The European Tour. However, two weeks later he was to start the exciting journey towards fame and fortune by winning on his debut on the European Challenge Tour in his native Düsseldorf.
Langer recalled: “I remember being introduced to Martin and watching him hit some balls. He looked impressive – definitely more so than most I had seen coming through in Germany – but at that age you never know. Some kids look terrific in their teens but don’t make the grade.
“However, I talked a little to Martin and his parents and brother, who was caddying for him, and we had some lunch and I got the sense that here was someone who was receiving strong family support and had an old head on young shoulders.
“We played the odd practice round together after that as he went from strength to strength. Just a few weeks after our meeting in Hamburg he won the first of his two Challenge Tour titles in 2006 to become exempt for The European Tour from just four starts. It was clear he was going to adjust quickly to the professional game.
“He was also very down to earth, which I recognised would be an advantage if he was to be around for the long haul. Some youngsters achieving so much at a young age can let success go to their heads and brag about things as if to say: ‘look at me’. I never saw that in Martin. He was always humble and respectful and had a thirst for knowledge. He was always asking questions in an effort to improve.”
That was never more apparent than in Munich in 2008, when Kaymer and Langer were paired in the opening two rounds of the BMW International Open. The younger man shot 68-63 to Langer’s 70-72 to lead the tournament by five shots at the halfway stage. Still he wasn’t satisfied.
“I remember what happened next,” acknowledged Langer. “We signed our cards and Martin asked if I had five minutes. We sat down and he wanted my advice on what he could do better to improve as a golfer. Some people would have been either too shy to ask or might have been happy to have shot 131 for two rounds. However, Martin felt he could do better still and I was deeply impressed with that attitude.”
The rest, as they say, is history. Last weekend Kaymer was anointed World Number One almost exactly 25 years after Langer himself reached that exalted position. Although he was denied a tenth European Tour title by Luke Donald, Kaymer had made a powerful statement.
“Being Number One won’t go to his head,” insisted Langer. “He has taken setbacks in his stride, like when he lost his mother and when he was injured in that go-karting accident. But for these problems I feel he would have made The 2008 Ryder Cup Team and probably won the first Race to Dubai.
“He’s a great person and attracts a lot of TV coverage here in the States. He has the good looks and the personality and intellect to be around the top levels of the game for a very long time. He is very marketable and is well liked by his peers on Tour. If he can stay healthy and focused there is no reason why he won’t be around for another 15 years.
“I don’t see burn out as a problem. He can handle things in his own quiet way and, if he continues to improve, I feel his best years are still ahead of him.”
Now that is something for the other players at the top of the world order to ponder!
