Martin Kaymer insists his outstanding Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship record counts for nothing when the tournament begins on Thursday.
The German won at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in 2008, 2010 and 2011, and was runner-up in 2009, but believes the course changes in recent years have eroded any psychological advantage he may have had.
“It's always a good start to the season,” said the US Open Champion.
“My first tournament of the year on The European Tour has been here in Abu dhabi since 2007, so not quite from the beginning, but for the ninth time now.
“I've had success here, but the golf course has changed quite a lot. It's tough to say if it became more difficult or easier.
“For me it became a little bit more complicated. They have changed a few greens, a few tee boxes, so therefore it's not a given that I will win this. A lot of people say ‘oh, we have to beat only you this week’. It's not only me - there are a few other guys out there, it's always an open competition.
“I think the key was always that I putted really, really well on those greens. Sometimes you have golf courses where the greens really suit your eye and you don't need to think much, you don't doubt yourself if you pick the right line.
“I think that was the main thing why I played so well, and I didn't miss many fairways in the past. I hit a lot of fairways, I think 11 or 12 fairways per round, and the golf course was a lot shorter in the past. And if you putt well and hit a lot of fairways, it's tough to shoot a bad score.”
Kaymer has skipped his usual trip to America over Christmas in favour of preparing for 2015 in his native Germany, and the Ryder Cup star even turned his hand to skiing in Italy over the festive break to take his mind off golf.
Having hit his straps again with a week’s practice in Dubai, Kaymer insists there is no pressure to start the year with a bang.
“My preparation has been a little different,” he added.
“Since 2005, I've always been in America for Christmas time. And last year and this year, I've been home in Germany, I haven't played golf much.
“This year I went to Dubai the week before this event here and practised a little bit, so it was a little bit of a different preparation, which doesn't mean it's worse or better. I feel good - it was very necessary to have a break after such a long season I had last year.
“Therefore, I don't have big expectations as every year. I just approach it as a neutral tournament, because I think if I compare myself to the way I played in 2008 or 2010 or 2011 when I won, you automatically put some pressure on yourself, because I played really, really well without making many mistakes.
“One year I made only one bogey in four rounds. It's very difficult to follow up that success and so I'll just approach it tomorrow morning or tomorrow afternoon as a regular event, a regular event that I love to play. There are definitely a lot of positives.
“I still enjoy the golf course a lot, but that doesn't mean that I have success every single year.”
Among those trying to stop Kaymer collecting a fourth title in Abu Dhabi are Ryder Cup team-mates Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose.
Stenson has twice been a runner-up in the event, and needs victory here to complete a Middle East clean sweep having won in Qatar and both the Dubai Desert Classic and DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.
“I'm looking forward to the week, as always,” said the Swede. “I'm playing my tenth tournament out of ten possible, and the same on the two other ones, making my 15th start in Doha and Dubai. I've played every possible chance that I've had throughout these three weeks.
“So it's great to be back here in Abu Dhabi. It's a great golf course, and I've been second twice, particularly the first year we had in 2006, I think I lost out by a shot to Chris DiMarco in the end.
“It's the one missing, and I would like to have it, and I probably fancy my chances a little bit more this time around.
“My game feels in pretty good shape at this time. In previous years, I feel like I've been trying to get going and find it a little bit more. If there are any signs of the way I've been hitting the ball in practice the last couple of days, I've got the chance to have a good week, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Rose has also had a near-miss in the event, having led for three rounds before being pipped by Jamie Donaldson on his previous visit two years ago.
“I thought it's a really good place to start the season,” he said. “It’s a good golf course, it's in good condition. You get reliable conditions out here in the Middle East which I think is very important when you're trying to get a read on your game early in the season.
“It's always nice to get in contention early in the season, and I think that started the year the right way.
“Obviously it set up what was to be a very good year, so, all in all, good memories.”
