GOLF: PHILIP REIDhears from Germany's Martin Kaymer, who can win the European Tour Order of Merit title this week and even overtake Lee Westwood as the world's number one if results go his way

FOR A man who had pins and plates inserted into his leg as a result of a go-kart accident last season, Martin Kaymer – the US PGA champion who heads into this week’s season-ending Dubai World Championship in the driving seat in his attempt to top the European Tour Order of Merit – doesn’t believe in adopting a safety-first approach.

On his week-off at home in Germany ahead of this mission in the desert, one of Kaymer’s ways of unwinding was to indulge in rock-climbing.

Now though, Kaymer, who has decided not to take up his US Tour card next season and instead has committed to the European Tour, is back to focusing on his golf as he seeks to finish off a remarkable year.

“When I turned pro, I had three goals in my career: to win a major; to play and win the Ryder Cup; and to become number one in Europe.

“So, two-thirds done and, hopefully, this week I can win the Race to Dubai and become the number one in Europe. So then I have done everything in one year, it would be fantastic.”

Would retirement beckon?

“No, no retirement . . . but I’ll have to set new goals,” he replied.

Kaymer, who has a lead of €290,911 over Graeme McDowell heading into this season’s finale, has the upper hand in the duel. Still, the Ulsterman’s form has made Kaymer – who had a lead of over €1 million just over a month ago – look over his shoulder more than he would have thought or liked. As he said, “I was thinking I will go into the Race to Dubai with a big lead, I was not expecting a couple of hundred thousand . . . I’m leading, so I think there’s always a little bit more pressure on the leading person because everybody is expecting me to win (the Order of Merit).

“It is not a normal tournament but I will try to approach it as one. I’ve played fantastic golf since the USPGA, I just have to be patient, wait for my chances and don’t look at Graeme’s scores. I can just take care of my own game.”

Kaymer, in fact, has the opportunity to do more than win the European Tour Order of Merit title this week, he could conceivably pass out Lee Westwood as the world’s number one if the results go his way. “It would be nice to be the number one in the world but my goal is to win the Race to Dubai,” said Kaymer of his priorities.

For his part, Westwood, who is resigned to losing the Harry Vardon badge of honour which denotes Europe’s number one player from his clothing, heads into the tournament with a couple of targets: firstly, to defend a title he won so convincingly last year; and, also, to retain his position as world number one in the rankings.

Of that top position he assumed from Tiger Woods, Westwood reiterated his belief that it comes from consistency, despite his failure to win a major.

“People come out of nowhere and win major championships. Well, that’s not what being number one in this sport is about. It’s about consistency and performing well all the time at the highest level,” he said.

So, who does he think will succeed him as Europe’s number one?

“It’s very difficult to separate them. They both have won a major. They both have won three events. Martin’s leading the money list, but Graeme probably had a little bit better Ryder Cup, holing the winning putt . . . how do you separate them? I guess it’s all on this week.”