GOLF KLM OPEN:MARTIN KAYMER starts his bid to go "double Dutch" today knowing there is a big difference to this time last year. First of all, the 26-year-old German has Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy to contend with at the KLM Open – and they, like him, do not want to let another victory chance slip away after going close in Switzerland last weekend.
Secondly, Kaymer’s four-stroke victory last September came in his first appearance after becoming a major champion and with his confidence at an all-time high. But he returns to the same Hilversum course now having gone over seven months without a win.
That looked set to end as the world number three stood over a two-foot birdie putt on Sunday. Hole it and he would have been two ahead with four to play, but he missed it and ended up losing by four to Thomas Bjorn.
“It definitely feels like I will win again in the next couple of weeks,” Kaymer told the European Tour website. “I’m hitting the ball very well. I like the golf course and I can drive there from home – it’s only two hours away and it’s nice to have your own car.”
McIlroy has something he likes having around him too. His Twitter site has a picture he took on the flight over of the US Open trophy in its own seat, complete with safety belt on. “It has to go everywhere with me these days,” the Northern Irishman tweeted.
He came third in the European Masters after leading early in the final round, but was encouraged by the fact he had no problems with the right arm he injured against a tree root at the USPGA Championship last month.
“I’ll probably still get a little bit of physio this week just to make sure,” he said. “I’ve got a long stretch coming up and it was nice to start it on a positive note like that.”
McIlroy moved back up from sixth in the world to fourth as a result and he admits he has Kaymer, Westwood and then number one Luke Donald in his sights. “I’m not desperate, but it’s definitely a goal that I’ve set for myself and I feel as if it’s very attainable,” he said. “It might not be this year, but definitely into next year. I can give myself a very good platform if I end the season well. Luke’s got a little bit of a lead at the minute and it would be nice to get closer to him. But at the end of the day winning golf tournaments takes care of that, so I want to just concentrate on trying to play well and give myself chances to win every week that I play.”
Westwood also had a share of top spot for a while on Sunday, but then fell back to sixth and with Donald finishing joint-third in America the gap between them at the top widened a bit further.
Back in action this week after injury lay-offs are France’s Thomas Levet and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts. Levet fractured his shin and needed surgery after jumping in the lake celebrating his French Open victory at the start of July and two weeks later, just before The Open, China Open champion Colsaerts was in a scooter crash and hurt his elbow.
McIlroy heads a seven-strong Irish challenge alongside Peter Lawrie, Shane Lowry Michael Hoey, Damien McGrane, Gareth Maybin and Paul McGinley.
The Lowdown
Course:Hilversumsche GC, Hilversum, Netherlands.
Prize money:€1.8m (€300,000 to the winner).
Length:6,906yds.
Par:70.
Field:156.
Course records:72 holes 263 Tobias Dier (2002); 18 holes 60 Tobias Dier (2002).
Where to watch:Live on Sky Sports from 10.30am today.
Course overview:The KLM Open, previously known at the Dutch Open, returns to Hilversum for the second consecutive year. The track is a short par 70 which relies on heavily-contoured, tree-lined fairways and strategically placed bunkers to defend itself. Course designers in Holland tend to favour short fiddly holes and the 125-yard fifth will provide some fun. The 350-yard par-four 17th and the 499-yard par-five 18th will provide some scope for birdies.
Weather forecast:Wind and rain greeted the players when they arrived in the Netherlands this week and things are not likely to improve for the tournament itself. Heavy rain and 18mph winds are forecast for today, with less rain over the next three days but the wind will remain a major factor, particularly on Sunday.
Type of player suited to the challenge:These are the straightest set of holes players will face on the European tour this season. Draws and fades are not required, just straight hitting.
