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How can Kaymer be so good in winning 3 stroke play tournaments in a row but get so epicly thrashed in his singles match at the Ryder Cup?

Good blog, Iain - always enjoy reading your work.

Not only is Kaymer unflappable, but he is also such a thoroughly decent lad. You couldn't but want great things to happen to him. I'm sure he'll be one of Europe's very best golfers in years to come, and with all the talent we have, as you detailed, that'll be some achievement.

A very good read about an excellent young player. Someone pointed out on a 606 thread that despite losing in the singles, Kaymer was actually joint second in points won over the Ryder Cup.

His shot yesterday from the road was quite brilliant. He is a great player to watch and I sincerely hope that he carries on this remarkable form.

Why do the media react to every tournament? Earlier in the year it was Justin Rose who was the next best thing, then Rory. Looks like it is now Kaymers turn.

No doubt the 3 are very good golfers but careers and reputations are built in years not rounds.

Woods and Mickleson have proved over the last 10 years that they are the best.

It is now upto the next generation to prove their sustainability by winning tournaments and majors over a lengthy amount of time.

It will be interesting.

Perhaps because on that day a player ranked in the top 50 in the world, after a recent win and other strong performances just played better on the day.

Dustin's run of 4 birdies on the final holes put a different complexion on the score and made it a comprehensive win.

Hopefully one day we can go back to times when someone wins competitions/events rather than the other players being considered as losing it.

@ Gavelaa,
The Ryder Cup is a different beast. And I think even Kaymer would admit that he didn't quite have his 'A' game last week, and he did look a bit overwhelmed by the event at times. He's young and he still has things to learn. Anyway, Jim Furyk only got a half-point total in the RC and he'd just won the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup, and played actually very well during the RC. There were heavy defeats on both sides in the singles - it's just how it goes. Not really a reflection on the individual's overall talent. I think next Ryder Cup we will see the real Kaymer. Well done to him, I say.

No doubt a very good player!

A bit harsh perhaps, but because the Ryder Cup is such a dominant event in the calendar, I cant help but see myself focusing on his meek surrendering in the singles on the Monday and not being overly impressed.... his form in the doubles was not amazing either.

He was a rookie, however, and we all know the ryder cup is quite a beast of its own and it is therefore understandable that some are slower to adapt to "Ryder Cup Golf" (which is a form of golf of its own I believe).

Indeed, his character and nerve has been put to the test already, late surges for the lead, playoffs etc, and so his singles capitulation may be the exception rather than the rule.

Another excellent European player, so, great news for Europe and the Tour.

Iain, could you please explain to me why McDowell (or any other major european - rose, casey spring to mind) choses to play on the US tour? Especially after the success of the Ryder Cup, it is common knowledge (I think) that the standard of play on the two tours is very similar and so to me, it beggars beleif that a European would choose to play the US tour without feeling like it is a betrayal.....supporting the US tour over the European tour is indeed that, especially when they seek to champion the Euro cause twice a year in Ryder Cups.

The only difference in the two tours that I can think of, is the money available and, perhaps, the better weather??? None of which are very good reasons in my book. I dont know why journalists never seem to put this kind of question to these guys, it would be my first question.

Before any pedant replies with "its a free market society and they are free individuals who can choose to play wherever they like", I thank you in advance for your statement of the obvious. By saying they "should" play on the euro tour I am coming from an ideological, hypothetical stand point regarding what I think should be the case and thus, such statements of the obvious have no relevance to the point I am trying to make.

Loving it for Europe at the mo. Kaymer is class, so is Gmac. Both winning majors this season. Let's now see the Westwoods Roses, Caseys, Poulters, Donalds and Garcias of this world joining in the party and while we're at it a return to the form of 2008 would be a bonus for Harrington. I really hope the success at Celtic Manor will help all these guys go on to dominate golf over the next 5-10 years. As a Scotsman I will also be following Martin Laird's progress with great interest as he nears the elite top 50. Come on Martin, lets see you at the masters next april it'll give us north of the border something to cheer about. Goodness knows we need it after the excuse that is our national football team.

I would like to see some more European dominance on the Major stage, particularly in our open, it's long overdue. Westwood has been a shining light on the European tour for a while now and has took Monty's role of leading European player from these shores, and senior man in the Ryder cup side, in his stride. The only thing missing from his c.v. is a Major. Hopefully he can put that right next year.
Hot on his heels though are players of the calibre of Kaymer and co which can only be good for European golf.Kaymer is a great prospect and plays the game in much the same way as his fellow countryman the great Bernhard Langer. He seems as ultra determined, aims for the highest of levels when it comes to the quality of his shot making and is as steely eyed when it comes to winning.
Maybe a certain Justin Rose could benefit from a return to the European stage.

@TeniPurist

Very well put. I would also like to know their justification for choosing to play primarily on the US Tour. Ironically, if all European players stayed here, then that would constitute the majority of the world's best (we have 5 in the World Top Ten), and the money would duly follow them. Like you, I also don't fully understand why some of our best guys pay homage to the US Tour. Yes, there are outstanding tournaments played there, and some for mind-boggling amounts of money, and so it’s certain they have to go for some events (including Majors, obviously), but why their primary focus on the US Tour?

Kaymer definately has that gift that makes winning look easy (Iain, dont think he's won 15 times though, i think it's 8). He looks so comfortable when in a winning position, unlike even some of the very best Euro players eg Westwood, Donald, Poulter, McIlroy & Casey.

As regards the US Tour, i suppose it's the lure of the Fed Ex Cup, the richest prize in golf..........I'm still not convinced on the effect of attempting to play both tours though, it must take its toll........

Fun n Games,
I suppose it's freedom of choice!!
Those like J.Rose, Casey Poulter & Donald must believe its a better Tour for them......................I don't think they owe anything to the European Tour..............

In terms of US tour, I'd suggest the following:

- Tends to be higher prize amounts
- In the past was considered a higher standard
- less travel time (that's an assumption but I would suggest it's easier to fly round America than say UK to China). This is key as for those with families I assume it will be easier for them to see them between tournaments.
- less public and press attention, I know a lot live close to each other as well.
- access to the top coaches many of whom are based in the US
- better weather than say the UK which probably means they can have a better quality of practice more regularly.

If we are going with the specific examples of tenipurist I would suggest:

- Casey, having developed as a golfer through the American college system and having married an American girl, probably sees it like a second home so is happy to live his life there.

- I thought Rose moved over to try and shake his career up a bit as he felt he hadn't take his game on to the next level.

- Mcdowell, as far as I know is still single and enjoying it. Perhaps he sees this as a stage in his life to take the challenge on before he settles down.

I think it's great they have these opportunities and take them on. It would be good to see some of the footballers trying to change things by experiencing other countries and then we may have more success on the international stage.

Iain, could you please explain to me why McDowell (or any other major european - rose, casey spring to mind) choses to play on the US tour? Especially after the success of the Ryder Cup, it is common knowledge (I think) that the standard of play on the two tours is very similar and so to me, it beggars beleif that a European would choose to play the US tour without feeling like it is a betrayal
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Easy, the standard of play has up until the last year or two been easily better on the US tour. The US tour also offers bigger prizes, more ranking points, not needing to fly half way around the world for three of the four majors, better weather and genrally less press intrusion for anyone not names Tiger.

If all Europeans stayed at home then yes by now the ranking points would have followed, (assuming of course that the likes of Donald, Poulter, Rose and Casey would have achieved as much), however the money would not. In the end they make their choices for many reasons and I don't think it is fair to complain either way, after all nobody moans at Els, Goosen and Oustheizen for playing on the Euro tour.

Good to see Kaymer get some attention he has been excellent the past two years. It's also great for the European Tour to have so many major contenders in its ranks. Lets hope Westwood bags one sooner rather than later.

As for the U.S tour it has always been more prestigous than the European one. However, if the current trend continues (i.e three of the four major holders) a lot of guys will reconsider. However, a lot of the English guys actually went to college in America so they probably prefer it over there. They've also got the Fed Ex Cup which is a nice earner. It's also worth considering the new tax implications for professional golfers (especially in England).

Anyway good blog and the next two years should be very interesting for the European Tour.

Iain, could you please explain to me why McDowell (or any other major european - rose, casey spring to mind) choses to play on the US tour? Especially after the success of the Ryder Cup, it is common knowledge (I think) that the standard of play on the two tours is very similar and so to me, it beggars beleif that a European would choose to play the US tour without feeling like it is a betrayal.....supporting the US tour over the European tour is indeed that, especially when they seek to champion the Euro cause twice a year in Ryder Cups.

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You seem to be missing the point that McDowell still has a European Tour Card and is still going to play on the European Tour regularly, unlike Rose and even someone like Casey he's not going to play in the US the majority of his time. He's said he'll have a Harrington like schedule and I'd expect him to play in Europe even more than Padraig.

You can't blame the guy for taking up the card when the European Tour doesn't hot up much at all until April or May and he'd be missing out on some great American events Then in September a lot of the premier golfers in the world will be playing in the Fed-Ex Cup, only fair on him to want to see if he can beat them.

Westwood's main reason for not taking up US Tour membership he said was that during the Fed-Ex Cup he went on holidays with his family and didn't want to sacrifice that. McDowell doesn't have that responsibility in his life yet.

I'd have no problem with players playing on both tours.

It is only a few tournaments but Kaymer has been showing class for ages and has shown he can close it out too. Football references are interesting as that is the opposite problem; Premier LEague full of players Capello can't pick, maybe that's why Europe keeps churning out the best young golfers like Kaymer, GMac and the Molinaris. Who next? Mannasero, Thorp, Willets?

#16 DavyG,

I think you are spot on. I dont quite understand # 7 (Tenipurist) and #10(fun_and_games) rather odd views (IMO) on it being wrong for Europeans to play primarilly on the US Tour. Maybe they prefer the lifestyle, maybe it suits their families, maybe its the weather, but its PROBABLY the much larger prize funds and good luck to them.............
#10 Fun_and_Games, im sure Casey, Rose, Donald, Brian Davis, Greg Owen & Martin Laird are going to lose lots of sleep in the knowledge that YOU want them to justify their decision to play primarily the US Tour........

martin kaymer is so superior to westwood its disrespectful to martin for people to compare them yes westwood has a good game but hes the worst player in the history of the game under pressure..he will never win a major and should never make no 1..kaymer is sensational at the moment and i for one know who id like to have my money on coming down the back 9..not westwood

@ #19 - "martin kaymer is so superior to westwood its disrespectful to martin for people to compare them yes westwood has a good game but hes the worst player in the history of the game under pressure..he will never win a major and should never make no 1..kaymer is sensational at the moment and i for one know who id like to have my money on coming down the back 9..not westwood."

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Westwood could have easily on the Masters if it wasnt for an inspired Mickleson. He was unplayable on the Sunday, and Westwood has been consistant enough to earn #1 status in my eyes. Ranking points are won by consistancy, if your consistantly picking them up then your a great player. Who ever is #1 deserves it. Tiger is the best in the world now on paper and its because he has demolished the opposition for the past 2 years or so.

Kaymer is a great, great talent. He will be the flag bearer along with Rory for European golf, no question.

However, to say you'd rather have your money on the German is a bit Naive in my opinion. Kaymer imploded inexplicity at St.Andrews when he got himself in great contention in the last round. Okay, Oosty cruised to victory in the end. But Martin Kaymer had enough chances to make top the top 3 and failed over the last few holes.

All I am saying is that even he isnt the machine you think. Personally, I think this debate is pointless. As I fully expect Tiger to pick it up next year and return to winning ways with a fresh start. Signs at Celtic manor were that he is coming back to his best. In addition to the fact that over a supposedly 'terrible' year he still made most of the cuts in the majors and was in contention in most after 60 holes or so.

Do not rule out Tiger from retaining his status next year. Thats where my money is.

When I say retain, I mean regain. As he does look set to lose his #1 status by default. Tiger will win one or more majors next year IMO.

I really follow Kaymer's career since Loch Lommond in 2009, and i must say he's impressed me even more than i anticipated: his win at the PGA was one of a real champion, despite the absence of Johnson in the playoff...

I saw him play in the Netherlands and in Dunhill Links, and he's absolutely amazing, in total control of his game... previously, he had sometimes troubles with his score on the final day, but now, he wins with four rounds easily under 70: very stable, very confident, and no weakness, no nerves... what a player!

Many people criticized his performance in the Ryder Cup, but they (too easily) forget that he was nearly bogey-free in his single match: just a lack of birdies at the right time doesn't mean he played bad, Johnson was simply on fire for a few holes... at least now, he knows what it takes to win such matches, and i'm sure he'll wow us in many future Ryder Cups as well...

Future World NΒ°1, and many Majors titles to come? Absolutely! Kaymer is here to stay for a long, long time... and that's great for the sport we all love...

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#13 Sports_Fanatic:
You raise some very valid points, especially in relation to our European players' college education and access to top-level coaches. However, my point, following on from TeniPurist's comment, was more along the lines of wouldn't it be interesting to hear the players' own (honest) opinion as to why they prefer one tour over the other. As you detailed, lots of factors probably come into play in their decision. It would be nice to see all our top players playing on the main European circuit week-in, week-out. As time goes on, maybe our guys will tend to favour the home tour. Regardless, let's hope the rise of European golf continues.

@12 and @18 by John Cregan:

TeniPurist, to whose comment I responded, put at the end of his post #7:
"Before any pedant replies with "its a free market society and they are free individuals who can choose to play wherever they like", I thank you in advance for your statement of the obvious. By saying they "should" play on the euro tour I am coming from an ideological, hypothetical stand point regarding what I think should be the case and thus, such statements of the obvious have no relevance to the point I am trying to make". [He must have known you were out there ready to pounce with your stunning intellect, John.]

To which you replied (to me): "I suppose it's freedom of choice!!" thus showing you've completely missed the point, as usual. Neither I nor TeniPurist were insisting that European players play on the home tour (as if we would 'demand' anything of an elite athlete, and expect them to "lose sleep" accordingly - grow up for God's sake); rather we are interested in why specifically they choose one above the other, and if the general quality and standard of courses and competition are the same on both tours (Majors and World events excepted), why do they not choose the home tour. Sports_Fanatic put some intelligent thought into his opinion on the matter - you should try doing the same sometime.
Since you seem to be the one constant on these blogs posting irrelevant drivel, I'll just skip your posts from now on and stick to responding to those with something sensible to say.

I have been following Martin Kaymer's career since his first appearance at the 2007 Volvo Masters (Valderrama, Spain) where I had the chance to attend as a marshal. Completing his first year on the European Tour he finished 6th! Coming home from the tournament I commented to my Spanish friends on the extraordinary talent I had seen with the prospect of winning a Major within (to my mind) 5 years. In march 2008 I marshalled again at the Andalusia Open (Marbella, Spain) with Martin Kaymer on his way. He enjoyed (as he still does) the quiet morning hours with no spectators around. On the 15th green a small (non-poisonous) snake was the only company. You could see him work and try to improve literally every shot.

Since then we have seen his impressive development as a person and a sportsman. Had it not been for the foolish go-cart accident last year he might well have maintained the European Tour lead he kept at the time of the accident until Dubai - who knows?

I agree with all the above comments praising the current talented European golf generation. We will enjoy more outstanding golf and down-to-earth professionals like Martin Kaymer.

#25 Fun_n_Games,
Having just recovered from your spiteful attack on me in Rod Hodgetts Column last week, seems you are at it again. Still not sure what last weeks attack was about ( your comment on my "constant berating of Harrington" was my highlight when anyone who knows me knows i am one of his biggest fans and have travelled all over ireland to watch him in Irish Opens). I had the temerity to utter an opinion that i thought Harrington (unlike Donald) didn't merit the wild card pick, while pointing out that this view was obviously with the benefit of hindsight and that you couldn't blame Monty for picking him.
One or two criticisms i made of Monty obviously drove you over the edge also, not sure why, but personal attacks have no place on these Blogs....................

Yes I agree about Kaymer. The real deal. Multi majors on the way.