MARTIN KAYMER will look to bounce back from a disappointing defence of his US Open title last week by giving home fans something to cheer in the BMW International.
Kaymer, who led from start to finish on his way to an eight-shot victory at Pinehurst last year, missed the halfway cut at Chambers Bay by a single shot, with most of the damage done by a triple-bogey seven on the 10th in a second round of 74. But making an early exit at least allowed the 30-year-old more time to travel to Munich to prepare for an event which provided his second European Tour title in 2008.
"It is special when you play in your own country," Kaymer said.
"Obviously for me, the expectations are quite high from the spectators and as well as from yourself because you want to perform a little bit better than other weeks. And that will be the fine line, the thing that you need to learn as good as possible to still perform and not be focused too much on if you want to perform well. You need to put that pressure away a little bit if you can."
Kaymer has recorded just one top-10 finish in the event - a tie for fourth in 2013 - since his victory seven years ago and missed the cut last year when it was staged in Cologne.
"Every year is very different," the two-time Major winner added.
"Last year was a very tough one. I had just won the US Open and then you come here and then you don't really have time to celebrate or let it really sink in because this week is another highlight for you if you play in your own country.
"Obviously this year, I have not done well recently in America, so it's time that I perform as good as I can again. It is always very special for me to play in front of my home crowd. I haven't given them too much to cheer since my win in 2008, but hopefully this year I can put on a good show.
"There's always more pressure playing in front of a home crowd, but I like that pressure because it makes you want to please them and make them happy. That's not always possible, of course, but it won't stop me trying.
"The week after a Major championship can sometimes be a quite difficult, especially with a nine-hour time difference, so I'm sure I'll feel a little tired but I won't need any extra motivation to get into the right mindset this week. There will be lots of demands on my time, but I don't mind."
Kaymer will partner Henrik Stenson and Shane Lowry in the opening two rounds at Golf Club Munchen Eichenried, two players who enjoyed contrasting weeks at Chambers Bay.
Lowry began the final round just three shots off the pace before having to settle for a share of ninth place, while Stenson was joint leader after an opening 65 but faded to a tie for 27th and memorably compared the greens to like "putting on broccoli".
Stenson won in Munich in 2006 and said: "That was the last tournament for me before the Ryder Cup in 2006 and I managed to win that one and (go) top of the points list as I recall.
"It was very exciting times back then and it is fun to be back. I know the course well. It has changed quite a bit over the last five or 10 years, some tee boxes, some changes around the greens. They are trying to make it harder for us as it was always a big birdie-fest.
"It is a little harder these days to get than it used to be, but birdies are still out there. It is always hard to predict the winning score but given that it's playing quite soft and long off the tee, I think the winning score could be a little higher."
