In the next of our series looking way back when, we join the now Major championship winning and World Rankings topping German, Martin Kaymer, at the 2006 Kazakhstan Open.
Having started the year on the European Professional Development Tour, or EPD for short, Kaymer got a start at home in the Vodafone Challenge. It was a fantastic opportunity for the then 21 year old to play on the Challenge Tour, and boy did he grab hold of it with both hands, shooting rounds of 70-67-63-70 for an 18 under par total and the title.
This was by no means a flash in the pan either, as he went on to finish in a tie for 12th at the following event, second the week after that, and by the time he rolled into the Opens de Volcans – Challenge de France he was full of confidence and ready to win again – and he did just that.
Kaymer followed that up with a further top five finish in Spain, meaning that by the time he arrived in Kazakhstan he could not quite believe what he had achieved.
“I was surprised. I started on the EPD and now I’m on the Challenge Tour in five, no, four tournaments and I have two wins,” he said. “I had some success over the winter but never thought I’d do this well on here.
“The top 20 get their card for 2007 but my goal is to keep playing for top spot – but I’ll be happy with the top ten, or five.”
Not only was the young pretender to the crown of German golfing hero Bernhard Langer flying up the Challenge Tour Rankings, he was rocketing up the World list too.
“Three weeks ago I found out I was in the World Rankings behind three other Germans and I just thought it was amazing to be in there.
“Now I’m in the top 200 and it is special to be the only Challenge Tour player that high in the World.”
So early in his career, Kaymer was clearly under no illusion that he was the finished article, nor entirely convinced of his chances of being victorious at the top level.
“Obviously there are things I can improve on, but I can’t really see myself winning on The European Tour just yet. I will have to stay calm, stay patient, and do my own thing.
“I really believe I can compete on it (The European Tour). I’m not saying I’ll win in my first or second year, but I think I should be able to make the odd top ten – I just have to believe that I can.”
Kaymer would go on to finish third that week in Kazakhstan, fourth on the Challenge Tour Rankings in 2006, and having been concerned with top tens in his first season he needn’t have worried as he made five in 2007.
And as for wins, how about two in 2008 – the first of three Abu Dhabi Golf Championships and a home win at the BMW International Open.
I think we all know the rest from there, so check out the video here
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