Martin Kaymer revealed he took inspiration from his most recent Major Championship victory before opening the 2020 US PGA Championship with a brilliant 66 on Thursday morning.
After carding an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys in a battling first round performance at TPC Harding Park, the German admitted he had watched a replay of the back nine of the final round of his U.S. Open win at Pinehurst in 2014 on Wednesday evening.
Kaymer, who won the US PGA at Whistling Straits ten years ago, came into this week's tournament having played just once since the coronavirus shutdown in March and was keen to draw on some positive memories ahead of the first Major of 2020.
And it paid dividends as he finished his round a single shot behind playing partner and fellow former champion Jason Day, who was the early clubhouse leader on five under.
Kaymer said: "Expectations were very low, to be honest, because I didn't really know where my game was at.
"Obviously I knew I was playing OK but on a golf course like this, OK play doesn't really get you far. Knowing this going into this week, I needed something.
"So last night I was watching the U.S. Open actually from 2014, the back nine, trying to get some kind of positivity in my game because it hasn't been much recently because of no play.
"But being on the first tee I was thinking 'this is one of the easier holes right away with a par five, if I can start off nicely with a birdie, that would be great'.
"But definitely that video from last night of me winning the U.S. Open, that helped me to believe that my putting was good enough; that my ball-striking was good enough, even though it's a few years back, but it's always nice to remember those moments and feel the same that you felt that day.
"I like to go back to those moments. I know you shouldn't live in the past, but if the past can help you in the present moment, I'll take it."
Starting from the tenth tee, Kaymer dropped an early shot at the 11th but made birdies at the 14th and 17th to turn in 34.
The Ryder Cup star then rolled back the years, following up birdies at the first and third with a superb eagle from over 45 yards on the long fourth to jump into contention.
That saw him sit in a tie for the lead on five under until he narrowly missed his par putt on the ninth - his last - to sign for a 66.
Kaymer was joined on four under in the clubhouse by a huge group containing two time defending champion Brooks Koepka, Englishman Justin Rose and Americans Zach Johnson, Xander Schauffele, Bud Cauley and Scottie Scheffler.
Day also started on the back nine and made a fast start, taking advantage of the long tenth and the short 17th to get to two under.
He picked up further shots at the first, fourth and ninth to post a sparkling 65 and lead the way on five under par.
After his round, Day said: "It was good. I got off to a great start. Got a little bit lucky between the bunkers on ten, but you've got to take the luck when it comes by.
"Today I drove it really nicely and when I was out of position I left myself on the right side of the fairways to be able to at least get somewhere around the greens, and if I did miss the greens I left it in the right spot.
"Yeah, pretty sound the whole way around. I hit a lot of good quality iron shots coming into the greens. Wasn't overly aggressive. And there were a couple of shots on nine and 17 where I hit it pretty tight, but overall it was very solid."
