FORMER world number one Martin Kaymer hopes a clear head can help him secure a first victory for almost two years in the Maybank Championship Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur.
Kaymer has not won since claiming the second of his major titles in the 2014 US Open at Pinehurst, where he led from start to finish just five weeks after doing the same in the Players Championship at Sawgrass.
The 31-year-old squandered a 10-shot lead in the final round of the Abu Dhabi Championship in 2015 and lost a play-off in the Italian Open later the same season, while he also lost his full playing privileges on the PGA Tour after failing to qualify for the FedEx Cup play-offs meant he could not play enough events to fulfil the membership criteria.
That at least means more appearances in European Tour events and the world number 36 is hoping to make up for a missed cut in the Dubai Desert Classic with a strong performance at Royal Selangor.
“I’ve played many times in Malaysia, but this has to be my favourite course here,” the Ryder Cup star told a pre-tournament press conference. “It’s definitely my kind of course. I grew up playing tree-lined courses, so in some ways this place reminds me of home – although it’s a little bit warmer here.
“You really need to move the ball both ways, and I enjoy the challenge of shaping your shots. You need to hit lots of fairways and then wait for your chances to come along, so it’s a fun course to play.
“The golf course suits me. I had a very nice group in the pro-am yesterday, we’re staying in a nice hotel, the food is good and everyone seems very happy and smiling, so I have no reason not to relax and feel happy. You always expect a lot from yourself, but hopefully I can handle that this week.
“I practised hard over the winter, sometimes it pays off straight away and other times it takes longer. The last few years I’ve managed to get off to a fast start, especially in Abu Dhabi, but this time I’ve struggled to find my rhythm so I took time off last week and went on holiday and it really helped to clear my head.”
Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat should be on holiday himself this week. In fact, the 26-year-old should be on his honeymoon after marrying his partner Tunyatorn Chaiyarat on Valentine’s Day.
“I’ve been staying in contact with my wife on social media,” said Aphibarnrat, who won the first of his three European Tour titles in Kuala Lumpur in 2013.
“She teaches in Thailand, so unfortunately she can’t come this week because her students have exams next week. I don’t want to keep reminding my wife about the fact that we were meant to be on honeymoon this week, because she will get angry with me.’’
