Kaymer: history maker

I think I have a very good chance to play in the Ryder Cup, but there are so many big tournaments coming up and I just want to focus on those as they are very important to me.

Martin Kaymer
Quotes of the week

Golf Night caught up with Martin Kaymer to talk about his BMW Open triumph and his Ryder Cup hopes.

Kaymer won the Munich torunament after beating Denmark's Anders Hansen in a sudden death play-off and became the first German to win the BMW Open in its 20-year history,

"I think it is always special when you win in your own country and it makes me feel proud, especially as I am the first German," Kaymer told Golf Night.

Kaymer was six shots up in the final round when things then began to go horribly wrong as he ran up a triple-bogey eight on the long 11th, putting two balls in the lake short of the green

"I was in the rough and I thought I could easily get through the light grass with a five iron," added the 23-year-old.

"But I did not hit it well and it was the wrong decision. My mindset was that I had to win the tournament. I had to keep fighting until the 18th and try and win somehow.

"I played a little bit different after the 11th hole. I am not sure why, I will probably have to sleep on it and speak to Fanny Sunesson about it and get her impression of it so that we can find a solution and learn from that."

Bernhard Langer, the most successful German golfer of all time, has had plenty of praise for Kaymer, comparing him to world number one Tiger Woods.

And Kaymer had the chance to pick Langer's brains as they were paired up in the first two rounds.

"He said that my game was solid and I was playing aggressive but not too aggressive," added Kaymer.

"He said that I had to work on my wedges, to get closer to give me better birdie chances, which I totally agree with."

Kaymer is currently fourth on the Ryder Cup points list but at the moment his mind is not on a trip to Valhalla in Kentucky.

" I think I have a very good chance to play in the Ryder Cup, but there are so many big tournaments coming up and I just want to focus on those as they are very important to me.

"I think it is a great pleasure to play for your country and I think even more so if you play for your continent so it will be nervous and very exciting.

"If I make the team I will definitely prepare for it but right now I am focussed on my next tournament."