Kaymer: BMW PGA needs a new date

US Open champion Martin Kaymer wishes the BMW PGA Championship took place later in the year to provide better conditions at Wentworth.
Moving the tournament back just a few weeks would make a big difference to the quality of the greens, the German said, though he acknowledged it would be difficult to find a place for it in the packed schedule.
“Because it’s the most important tournament that we play on the European Tour, I would like to see this played later in the year,” said Kaymer.
“The only thing that the tournament struggles with is the greens every year. It’s very difficult I think for the greenkeeper to make the greens as good as they can be.
“And talking to a few (Wentworth) members, they said if you come here in six weeks, the greens are perfect.”
That would place the tournament in between the US Open and Open Championship.
“Yeah, I think it’s going to be difficult to plan around the US Open and the British Open and those things, but for such a big event, you should get the best date, and for us players, it would be even more fun to play that golf course,” Kaymer added.
Kaymer is set for his first European Tour outing in some time, with his last regular European Tour event coming in Dubai at the end of January.
“It’s been a long time,” he added. “Sometimes it’s a shame that we play that little in Europe, but obviously when you play on both tours, the big events, they are in America when it comes down to world ranking points and status of the tournament.
“Therefore it’s even nicer to come back here feeling really like home. Even though it’s not my home country, it does feel where you feel the most comfortable.”
Kaymer will be joined by Ryder Cup team-mates Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Victor Dubuisson, Jamie Donaldson, Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood and Stephen Gallacher at Wentworth this week.
Latest
-
PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy on top but not getting ahead of himself at US PGA Championship
The Northern Irishman carded seven birdies and two bogeys in an opening 65 to record his lowest round in a major since the 2011 US Open.
-
News
UPS delivers a sponsorship setback to Lee Westwood
The company has ended its deal in an apparent response to Westwood’s involvement with a series of Saudi-backed events.
-
PGA Championship
Tyrell Hatton shares slow play fears as US PGA begins at Southern Hills
This week’s course layout in Tulsa looks set to exacerbate the issue.
-
PGA Championship
‘Recharged’ Shane Lowry excited for week ahead at US PGA Championship
Lowry has finished no worse than 35th in his nine starts this season.
-
PGA Championship
Jordan Spieth relishing playing alongside Tiger Woods in career grand slam bid
Spieth has had five attempts to complete the grand slam since adding the 2017 Open title to the Masters and US Open he won in 2015.
-
News
‘He has his opinion, I have mine’ – Tiger Woods on Phil Mickelson controversy
Woods said Mickelson’s comments about the PGA Tour have been “polarising”.
-
PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy hoping relaxed approach pays dividends at US PGA Championship
McIlroy did his research via videos posted online before travelling to Oklahoma on Monday.
-
PGA Championship
Tiger Woods believes he can scale another mountain and win US PGA Championship
The 46-year-old finished 47th in the year’s first major, his first top-level event since suffering severe leg injuries.
-
News
Rory McIlroy was pretty sure Saudi-backed breakaway would not happen
The Northern Irishman is waiting to see how it plays out.
-
PGA Championship
Graeme Storm recalls ‘surreal’ US PGA adventure after battle with Rory McIlroy
His famous victory over McIlroy came on the third extra hole in the 2017 South African Open in Johannesburg