Nedbank Golf Challenge: Martin Kaymer seeking Sun City success
Thursday 4 December 2014 09:00, UK
Martin Kaymer is hoping to end the year on a high as he prepares for his final two tournaments of 2014.
The 29-year-old German admits it has been a long campaign for him and he has taken some time off following the DP World Tour Championship last month, with another break planned over Christmas.
But he will be back in action at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City, South Africa, this week.
"It has been a long season, probably the longest I've ever played," said Kaymer who claimed his second major success when winning the US Open at Pinehurst in June.
Live Nedbank Golf Challenge
"After Dubai I didn't hit a golf ball until this morning (Wednesday) when I warmed up for the pro-am.
"There won't be much practice this week as it's just about conserving energy.
"When I play on Thursday I'm not going to be tired on the golf course.
"Once the tournament starts, there's no problem with motivation. Of course you want to play and you want to win.
"I've got one more tournament after this and then I'll be heading home to Germany for a good break.
"It's been years since I spent Christmas in Germany so I'm really looking forward to it."
Kaymer won this event, which comprises 30 players from the European Tour, PGA Tour, Sunshine Tour, Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia plus the top five South Africans in the world rankings, a year before it became part of the main European Tour schedule.
He will look to draw on that experience in the hope of getting the new 2015 season off to a good start.
"I know the golf course well and I won here in 2012, so there are a lot of positive memories," he told europeantour.com.
"It's an important tournament and it would be nice to make a strong start to the 2015 campaign but it's also the end of a long year and you want to enjoy it a little bit."
Also in the field are Kaymer's Ryder Cup team-mates Thomas Bjorn, who is the defending champion, Jamie Donaldson, Stephen Gallacher and Lee Westwood.
Watch the Nedbank Golf Challenge live on Sky Sports 4 from 8am on Thursday.
