Martin Kaymer insisted he was not putting too much pressure on himself on home soil after carding an opening 70 at the 2021 BMW International Open.
The home favourite is a two time Major Champion and former World Number One but his last win was his second Major at the 2014 U.S. Open Championship and he currently sits 99th in the Official World Golf Ranking.
A long awaited victory this week at Golfclub München Eichenried would go some way to moving him back to the very top of the game, but the 36-year-old insists he is willing to be patient.
"I was searching a bit over the last few weeks what it was," he said. "I said to Craig (Connelly, caddie) also, I’m not too far away. Then you miss a cut and think you must be far away. But it didn’t feel like it.
"My attitude changed a bit in terms of: I don’t need to perform this week. My goal is more mid-term, long-term. I need to get back to the Top 50 in the World, Top 20 and eventually to the Top Ten, Top Five. I need to see it step by step.
"My main mission is now to play golf and work on the things I work on with my coach in the tournament without focusing so much on the result. I think that attitude takes the pressure away a little bit."
The German has this week been appointed as a Vice Captain for this year's Ryder Cup, although he insists he is still hoping to have a playing role at Whistling Straits.
One man who looks certain to be making a playing debut in the autumn in Viktor Hovland, and he fired an opening 68 while playing alongside Kaymer on day one.
The Norwegian's four under par total was all the more remarkable considering he put his ball in the water on the 11th, 18th and fourth - successfully saving par on the latter two holes.
"I made a nice putt on the tenth hole, my first of the day, and then hit it in the water on the next, on 11," he said.
"I felt like I hit the ball well today but I had some bad shots in there and they happened to be on the par fives or the drivable par fours - I hit them in the water, which you just can’t do out here. There’s a lot of birdies out there but if you keep hitting it in the water it’s going to be hard to shoot well.
"I’m a way more consistent putter. I got really streaky before. Now, day-in, day-out I can rely on my putting a little bit.
"Short game is tremendously better. Out here the greens are pretty flat, you don’t need to elevate the ball much but you still have to catch it clean and I made a lot of nice up-and-downs today."
