It may be his professional debut in the United States but Martin Kaymer will find a familiar face waiting for him in the first round of the WGC – Accenture Match Play at The Gallery Golf Club in Tucson.
The 23 year old German – who earned the right to play in the event which features the top 64 players from the Official World Golf Ranking when he captured the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship last month – faces an intriguing first round tie against American Boo Weekley.
And the winner of The Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year on The 2007 European Tour revealed it would be the renewal of an old acquaintance having played with Weekley and partner Heath Slocum during the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China last November.
“Myself and Alex Cejka partnered the Americans during the tournament so I do know him (Weekley) a little bit,” said Kaymer. “My first impression was that he was a nice guy so I think we will have a fun match.”
With English not being Kaymer’s first language, the irony of the situation was not lost on the American media who were not slow to ask the German – who, commendably, speaks flawless English – whether or not he could follow Weekley’s infamous drawl.
“Everybody kept asking me, ‘Did you understand him?’” said Kaymer before adding politically: “A little bit!”
One thing everyone understands is Kaymer’s meteoric rise from the ranks of the third level EPD Tour in Germany three years ago to the pinnacle of world golf this week in Arizona, a testimony to his tremendous game and raw talent.
“It has gone really, really fast but I have worked hard on my game and I think that I deserve it,” he said. “It was a big step up from the Challenge Tour to The European Tour and now being given the chance to play here in a tournament like this, is awesome.
“It sounds a little strange now I suppose but my goal at the start of the year was just to keep my card and then to be able to play in the Volvo Masters again at the end of the year because that was a really nice tournament.
“But now my goal is to win more tournaments because I know I can win. Of course a lot of people are also talking about The Ryder Cup. It was never on my list at the start of the season and I’m not expecting to play, but if it happens, it would be nice.”
