Kaymer opts out of Tiger’s event

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  • November 29, 2010

Europe’s new number one Martin Kaymer has opted out of this week’s Chevron World Challange in California.

Europe’s new number one Martin Kaymer, has opted out of this week’s annual end-of-the-year Chevron World Challange which has traditionally been hosted by Tiger Woods.

No official explanation was forthcoming, but it is believed that the 2010 US PGA Champion has cited mental exhaustion as his reason for withdrawing from the 18-man invitational field.

He has been replaced in the line-up, which is packed with 2010 US Ryder Cup players, by American young gun Nick Watney.

The event, which is set to be played at the highly-rated Jack Nicklaus-designed Sherwood Country Club in a Thousand Oaks outside Los Angeles, includes 11 of the 12 Americans who played in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.

Only Phil Mickelson is missing.

Kaymer, along with US Open champion Graeme McDowell and England’s Paul Casey and Luke Donald were among the European stars invited to join the stellar field in which every player ranked in the World’s top 50

Kaymer and McDowell, Kaymer’s only Race to Dubai challenge, when the Dubai World Championship teed off last Thursday, finished this European Tour season-ending event in a tie for 13th at 6-under on Sunday, but McDowell needed to place in the top three to have any chance of overtaking the German and his closing 4-under 68 was simply not enough.

It mean Kaymer, who finished with a 72, was able to add the prestigious European crown to the US PGA title he had won in August.

“It’s been a fantastic year,” Kaymer told reporters afterwards.

“All of the goals that I set for myself; for my career; everything happened this year. To win the Race to Dubai, be (Europe’s) No.1, play the Ryder Cup and to win a major.”

Kaymer says his next goal will be to replace England’s Lee Westwood, last season’s top European money winner, from his current perch atop the world rankings.

“If it happens, it happens,” he said. “If it doesn’t, I hope that I will get another chance in the next few years.”

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