Winnings Ways

By Matt Cooper Last updated: 17th August 2010

MARTIN KAYMER - PGA CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER

In the bag

Driver - TaylorMade R9
Fairway-woods - TaylorMade R9 & Burner
Irons - TaylorMade RAC TP
Wedges - TaylorMade RAC & TP
Putter - Ping Karsten Anser 2
Ball - TaylorMade Penta TP

Turning point

It is difficult to avoid the sense that the 72nd hole determined the fate of the championship, most especially the catastrophic penalty the 71-hole leader Dustin Johnson received for failing to appreciate he was in a "bunker" when playing his second shot.

But perhaps the moments leading up to his tee shot were just as instrumental - and if they were Kaymer had a strong hand in affecting the then leader's thought processes.

Cast your mind back: Kaymer has a long and difficult par putt on the 18th green which he needs to tie the clubhouse lead. In the fairway Rory McIlroy prepares to hit his approach, behind McIlroy we can see Dustin Johnson swinging his driver on the tee, nervously awaiting the opportunity to crash the ball down towards McIlroy's position.

Kaymer made the crucial putt, McIlroy then completed his approach and only then did Johnson have the chance to hit his drive. In those few minutes Kaymer did what was required to have a chance of a play-off and then the fretful Johnson sprayed his drive wide into the crowd.

The whys and wherefores of the rather confusing issue of what are and what are not bunkers will be discussed elsewhere but in those few minutes Kaymer executed under pressure and Johnson did not.

Later, in the play-off, Kaymer's superb birdie on the brutal 17th hole, the second of the play-off, gave him the chance to once again exert pressure on an opponent, this time Bubba Watson. Once again, Kaymer kept his nerve and his American foe cracked.

Stats

Kaymer's steady golf saw him cope with a brute of a course that cost the other contenders far more bogies.

In the final 54 holes Kaymer lost shots to par on only two holes. Compare that to Bubba Watson's seven, Dustin and Zach Johnson's six, and Rory McIlroy and Steve Elkington's five.

Perhaps the most important stat, however, was this one: there were around 1000 bunkers on and around the Whistling Straits course. Many were in play, many were not in play and one appeared like nothing of the sort but might turn out to be the most controversial bunker in golf history.

Insight

Kaymer has always possessed the ability to win. He won as an amateur on the professional EPD Tour in Germany in 2005, won on that tour fives time in 2006 as well as twice on the Challenge Tour, won the European Tour Rookie of the Year in 2007, two titles on that tour in both 2008 and 2009, and now has completed a second win in 2010.

He has also grown accustomed to playing in the majors - three of his previous four starts had been top ten - so translating that winning ability to the big events was only a matter of time.

He admitted as much after his win.

"Of course it put me in a good position to understand the feeling of being up there on the final day of a major," he said. "The British Open this year was tough for me. I was four-over for the last five holes and I had never screwed a tournament up before."

"I thought about it for a long time and it helped me today.

"But also you don't have to be a genius to know there are more important things in life than golf. For everybody, their family should always be the most important and after that they can comment on whatever."

In his words

Kaymer talked about the influences on his career.

"Obviously what Bernhard Langer did in his career, he was always one of my heroes for sure.

"My role model, however, was Ernie Els and still is. I just love that guy, how the guy swings the club.

"I hope my win helps golf get bigger and bigger in Germany. Bernhard obviously inspired me so I hope I can inspire other kids."

AROUND THE WORLD:

LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR
Lee-Anne Pace - S4/C Wales Ladies Championship of Europe winner

The South African's second win of the year (and her career) was full of classic Winning Ways indicators. First of all she grew up playing golf at Mossel Bay in South Africa, the home course of Open champ Louis Oosthuizen and Bernie Smits, both of whom have won on the links courses of the UK. She also utilised a singing strategy between shots that was reminiscent of Yani Tseng's at the Ricoh Women's British Open (she sang between shots to avoid dwelling on any thoughts, never mind negative ones). And finally she was working with her caddie for the first time, one whose ideas were fresh and helpful on the links.

NATIONWIDE TOUR
Hunter Haas - Price Cutter Championship winner

Four stunning rounds of 65-66-66-65 gave Haas a six-shot victory and ended a four year win drought. Afterwards he commented on the feelings he had this week, which were why he had continued to fight throughout that four year period. "The adrenaline rush, the butterflies on the first tee," he said. "It is all of that. That is what makes it so rewarding when you accomplish your goals and defeat the golf course that week. I've played so well for the last month so I almost felt due."

CHALLENGE TOUR
Mark Tullo - Rolex Trophy winner

A great low round of seven-under-par 65 bounced the Chilean golfer up the leaderboard and enabled him to put enough pressure on the Italian teenager Matteo Manassero. The 17-year-old had led by one shot with three holes to play, but when Tullo exerted that pressure, Manassero cracked making two bogies in those final three holes. Last week Tullo had a putting lesson and he was amazed to reap such immediate rewards as he putted great all week.

Matt Cooper