Martin Kaymer keen to stay out of the headlines ahead of US Open
Last Updated: 18/06/15 8:25am
Martin Kaymer is happy to stay "under the radar" as he prepares to defend his US Open title at Chambers Bay this week.
Kaymer produced one of the performances of 2014 when he left the world's best players trailing in his wake with a dominant eight-shot victory at Pinehurst, although he has struggled for form since and that remains his last victory.
But the German is confident of putting up a stout defence this week, and he has no problem with the likes of Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and Masters champion Jordan Spieth taking the majority of the spotlight in the build-up to the second major of the year.
"A lot of times I'm under the radar, I feel like, which is fine," said Kaymer. "The other guys, they should get a lot of credit for what they have done.
"Obviously Jordan, what he has done this year, must have felt for the others how I played Pinehurst. It was impressive to watch (at the Masters) that he didn't miss many putts. He played very aggressive down the stretch the last few holes.
"Then what Rickie did at the Players, how brave he played, and then obviously Rory. Those guys, they're all four or five years younger than me so they should get the credit for what they have achieved.
"My win was already 12 months ago. What they've done more recently is more important than my win last year."
Augusta fatigue
Kaymer, who famously blew a 10-shot lead during the final round in Abu Dhabi in January, also admitted his form had been affected by focusing "too much" on preparing for the Masters, where he blamed fatigue for missing the cut.
"I'm not 100 percent satisfied with the way I performed in certain tournaments," the 30-year-old added. "This year there was so much focus on the Masters, I was focusing too much on only one tournament.
"I practised a lot and I did a lot of fitness. That was the main issue when I got to Augusta, that I was almost tired by entering the tournament. It was a little bit of mis-planning, and it took me two or three weeks to recover from all of that.
"You would think after 10 years you know what you're doing, but clearly I didn't."
There has been unprecedented attention on the complexities of the Chambers Bay layout ahead of this week's US Open, and the defending champion believes the links-style course and conditions could play into the hands of the British challengers.
"I believe we're going to play three British Opens this year: We start here and then we play the real one at St Andrews, and then Whistling Straits," Kaymer said. "The guys from the UK might have a little bit of an advantage this week, because this is what they grew up on.
"For me, I enjoy playing difficult golf courses wherever they are, because it's not about making too many birdies, not about a putting competition. It's just a challenge. It's the biggest challenge that we have after the Masters, I think."
See how Kaymer fares when he plays alongside McIlroy in the opening round. Live coverage begins at 4.30pm on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf.
