Wednesday 21 September 2016 16:14, UK
Martin Kaymer is putting a positive spin on playing this week's Porsche European Open 'blind' after bad weather disrupted the Ryder Cup star's preparations.
Torrential rain over the weekend left parts of the course at Golf Resort Bad Griesbach under water and led to the cancellation of practice rounds and the traditional pre-tournament pro-am.
That means the likes of two-time major winner Kaymer, who did not play in the event last year when it returned to the European Tour schedule after an absence of six years, will be at a distinct disadvantage when play gets under way on Thursday.
"It will be interesting having not played the course," said the former world No 1. "I think the last time that has happened for me was as an amateur.
"Usually we can always play on Tuesday or at least play the pro-am. I don't know the golf course and I have to go out later and walk it with Craig [Connelly, his caddie], then at least we've seen it once before we tee off and we just go.
"It's not that bad a thing, sometimes we over-practice and over-prepare to just go out there, be open, and play.
"I think you just need the attitude that you won't do everything perfectly right or notice everything at first, like where the danger is. Of course you see it but it depends a little on the golf course too, is it complicated, lots of doglegs? I have no idea so I think you've just got to be open and don't put yourself under too much pressure."
Kaymer was one of captain Darren Clarke's three wild cards for next week's Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, where Europe are seeking an unprecedented fourth straight victory.
And the 31-year-old, who won the point which ensured Europe retained the trophy at Medinah in 2012, insists he has no concerns about fatigue at the end of a busy summer.
"We have only two tournaments in Germany unfortunately, so last year I played in Munich and this year I thought, because I had heard a lot of good things about the Porsche European Open, why not go there this year," Kaymer added.
"Obviously I didn't know I was going to be in the Ryder Cup at that stage, but I talked to Bernhard Langer about this event and I heard so many positive comments so I thought 'let's give it a go'.
"I'm the kind of guy who likes to play a few in a row and you shouldn't talk too much about the Ryder Cup this week because I'm here to play this event as well as I can. But in the past it was always the case that I did well when I played three or four in a row."
