Kaymer shows USA his worth

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March 14, 2010

Martin Kaymer, Europe’s best putter last season, showed US golf fans just what he is capable of in windy Miami on Saturday.

Martin Kaymer, Europe’s best putter last season, showed US golf fans just what he is capable of in windy Miami on Saturday.
A brilliant six-under-par 66 containing only 22 putts made the 25-year-old German the early clubhouse leader in the third round of the WGC-CA Championship at Doral.
Joint 22nd at halfway, Kaymer moved into a tie for third spot with Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, who turned in a fine 33, and Australian Robert Allenby.
However, they were four adrift of Ernie Els, who made up for two bogeys with four birdies in his first eight holes to be one in front of fellow South African Charl Schwartzel.
Kaymer twice holed from off the green as he birdied four of the final five holes, although that stretch also included an unexpected three-putt bogey on the 17th.
Already a winner in Abu Dhabi this season, he is currently eighth in the world, but relatively unknown in the States.
“I’ve been working very hard on my putting for the last two weeks and so one day it should pay off,” said the Ryder Cup hopeful, who was forced to take two months off last year after breaking three toes in a go-kart accident.
Titanium plates were inserted in his foot after that, but they will be coming out after The Masters next month.
“I thought it was going to be later in the season, but I can’t go running, I can’t do anything, so I talked to my doctor and he said he can take them out.”
Els led Allenby by one at halfway, but Schwartzel became the closest challenger when he birdied four of the first six holes.
He joined the three-time major winner out in front on three separate occasions, but Els responded each time as he reached 12 under.
Harrington missed a birdie chance from under six feet on the opening green, but made amends from similar range at the fifth and birdied the long eighth as well.
In-form Paul Casey eagled that hole with a 28-foot putt and was not out of the running for the title either.
After disappointing bogeys at the ninth and long 10th birdies came on the 12th and 16th to put him joint- sixth on seven under, four under for the round.
Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell produced a decent day’s work too, a two-under 70 taking him to four under and increasing his hopes of staying in the world top 50 and earning a place in the Arnold Palmer Invitational in two weeks.
The golf world is still waiting to see if Tiger Woods returns there, but the latest indications are that he will wait for The Masters.
Luke Donald shot 69 for two under and Ross Fisher a 70 for one under, but Lee Westwood had his second 74 of the week and stood at level par.
Ross McGowan (70) was one further back, Simon Dyson (73) two over,
World Match Play champion Ian Poulter remained six over – he has been suffering from a stiff neck – and Rory McIlroy was alongside him following a 73.
England’s Oliver Wilson had tailed off last on 13 over, an unhappy week continuing with a 77.