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Martin Kaymer the Masters survivor driven by high ambition of Ryder Cup Martin Kaymer the Masters survivor driven by high ambition of Ryder Cup
(about 2 hours later)
Even those who pay particularly close attention to professional golf would have struggled to foresee this year's Ryder Cup looking so different to the one which went before. Five months have still to run before Europe hosts the United States at Gleneagles but, already, key performers from both sides at Medinah face a race against time to retain their place. Even those who pay particularly close attention would have struggled to foresee this year's Ryder Cup looking so different to the one that went before. Five months have still to run before Europe hosts the United States at Gleneagles but, already, key performers from both sides at Medinah face a race against time to retain their place.
Stephen Gallacher, Victor Dubuisson, Jamie Donaldson, Thomas Bjorn and Henrik Stenson have propelled themselves into European thoughts. If automatic places were sealed today, that quintet would all be in Paul McGinley's team.Stephen Gallacher, Victor Dubuisson, Jamie Donaldson, Thomas Bjorn and Henrik Stenson have propelled themselves into European thoughts. If automatic places were sealed today, that quintet would all be in Paul McGinley's team.
Those fighting – or struggling – to secure a berth on the basis of points lists alone include Francesco Molinari, Peter Hanson, Justin Rose, Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell. Westwood has admitted he is still "building" his swing with his new coach, Mike Walker.Those fighting – or struggling – to secure a berth on the basis of points lists alone include Francesco Molinari, Peter Hanson, Justin Rose, Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell. Westwood has admitted he is still "building" his swing with his new coach, Mike Walker.
It seems inconceivable that three of that group will not feature at Gleneagles but it must be remembered that McGinley has only a trio of captain's selections. A big name may well miss out. McGinley watched on as McDowell and Luke Donald missed the 78th Masters cut. It seems inconceivable that three of that group will not feature at Gleneagles but it must be remembered that McGinley has only a trio of captain's selections. A big name may well miss out. McGinley watched on as McDowell and Luke Donald missed the cut at 78th Masters.
And then there is Martin Kaymer. The German wrote his name into Ryder Cup folklore by holing the putt which endorsed Europe's stunning comeback at Medinah in 2012. Since then, Kaymer has not so much toiled with his game as found problems on and around the greens undermining strong iron play. Then there is Martin Kaymer. The German wrote his name into Ryder Cup folklore by holing the putt that endorsed Europe's stunning comeback at Medinah in 2012. Since then, Kaymer has not so much toiled with his game as found problems on and around the greens that is undermining his strong iron play.
Kaymer is a former world No1 and a major champion. His talent should be beyond dispute. It has been encouraging, therefore, to see him survive for the closing 36 holes of the Masters. Kaymer is a former world No1 and a major champion. His talent should be beyond dispute. It has been encouraging, therefore, to see him survive for the closing 36 holes here. "I have just needed a few more putts to drop to move further up the leaderboard," he said. "I have missed a lot of chances. But then when you look at these putts, they are only 6ft or 7ft with 2ft of a break. So it is very difficult to score.
"I have just needed a few more putts to drop to move further up the leaderboard," Kaymer explained. "I have missed a lot of chances. But then when you look at these putts, they are only 6ft or 7ft with 2ft of a break. So it is very difficult to score. "I have played great and hit a lot of good shots. I am very happy with the way I have played the course. I am feeling good but at the end of the day it is about results. If you don't get the results, then …"
"I have played great and hit a lot of good golf shots. I am very happy with the way I have played the golf course. I am feeling good but at the end of the day it is about results. If you don't get the results, then …"
Kaymer broke off there. He insisted on speaking solely about the tournament in hand, rather than the wider issues post-Medinah. Mention the upcoming Ryder Cup, though, and the 29-year-old was assertive. "It is all about the Ryder Cup, especially since I made that putt; I want to be in the team for the rest of my career," he said.Kaymer broke off there. He insisted on speaking solely about the tournament in hand, rather than the wider issues post-Medinah. Mention the upcoming Ryder Cup, though, and the 29-year-old was assertive. "It is all about the Ryder Cup, especially since I made that putt; I want to be in the team for the rest of my career," he said.
Kaymer was the man who altered his swing amid frustration that he could not move the ball from right to left sufficiently to cope with Augusta National. That move in itself drew criticism from those who believed Kaymer should have stuck to what earlier made him so successful. Kaymer altered his swing amid frustration that he could not move the ball from right to left sufficiently to cope with Augusta. That move drew criticism from those who believed Kaymer should have stuck to what earlier made him so successful. "To be honest, I couldn't care less," he said. "I like to become a better player. If people like it or not, it doesn't matter.
"To be honest, I couldn't care less," he added. "It is my golf, I like to become a better player. If people like it or not, it doesn't matter.
"That is why I can play Augusta as well as I do now. It makes a big difference to have a seven-iron or eight-iron playing into the 10th, or if you can go for the green at the 13th all the time. That's all because you are able to draw the ball.""That is why I can play Augusta as well as I do now. It makes a big difference to have a seven-iron or eight-iron playing into the 10th, or if you can go for the green at the 13th all the time. That's all because you are able to draw the ball."
It has been a while since the United States captain, Tom Watson, could properly compete in the first major of the year. He missed a fourth Augusta cut in a row this time and clearly will not make too many more playing trips to this corner of Georgia. It has been a while since the United States captain, Tom Watson, could properly compete in the first major of the year. He missed a fourth Augusta cut in a row on Friday and clearly will not make too many more playing trips to this corner of Georgia.
"I actually hit some good quality shots which kept on going over the greens," Watson explained. "I don't think I had ever shot 45 on any nine here before but I did this time, 36-45 on Friday. It wasn't very pretty, I guess. "I hit some good quality shots which kept on going over the greens," Watson said. "I don't think I had ever shot 45 on any nine here before but I did this time, 36-45 on Friday. It wasn't very pretty.
"I can't hit the types of shots into the greens. I can't go in high enough or soft enough. But I still drove the ball well and hit some quality shots. I messed up around the greens and hit the ball into water but I have something to go away with, that's the positive. I'm playing next week against the kids on a shorter golf course, a tighter golf course, and maybe I can play well on that. "I can't hit the types of shots into the greens. I can't go in high enough or soft enough. But I still drove the ball well and hit some quality shots. I messed up around the greens and hit the ball into water but I have something to go away with, that's the positive. I'm playing next week against the kids on a shorter course, a tighter course, and maybe I can play well on that.
"I have enjoyed my time this week. I just wish I could get a little bit of backspin on my four-iron.""I have enjoyed my time this week. I just wish I could get a little bit of backspin on my four-iron."
Watson acknowledged a "busier" Masters week, with the responsibility of his Ryder Cup role in mind. He has spent time in the company of the fresh names who are likely to be catapulted into the American side; Jimmy Walker and Jordan Spieth have further endorsed their claims with their handling of Masters debuts.Watson acknowledged a "busier" Masters week, with the responsibility of his Ryder Cup role in mind. He has spent time in the company of the fresh names who are likely to be catapulted into the American side; Jimmy Walker and Jordan Spieth have further endorsed their claims with their handling of Masters debuts.
With Patrick Reed and Harris English currently in Ryder Cup box seats, Watson's early issues relate to whether the likes of Brandt Snedeker, Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar and Keegan Bradley can overhaul them. That is even before taking Tiger Woods' currently injured state into account. With Patrick Reed and Harris English currently in Ryder Cup box seats, Watson's early issues relate to whether Brandt Snedeker, Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar and Keegan Bradley can overhaul them. That is even before taking Tiger Woods's currently injured state into account.
"I played with Jimmy on Tuesday and he is a fine player," said Watson. "Jordan has done really well. People have got to play it for the first time and sometimes when you do that, you play well. But this tournament is all about the last nine on Sunday – let's see how they do then." "I played with Jimmy on Tuesday and he is a fine player," said Watson. "Jordan has done really well. People have got to play it for the first time and sometimes when you do that, you play well.
"But this tournament is all about the last nine on Sunday – let's see how they do then."