Kaymer doesn’t need the limelight
Flying under the radar has never been a problem for defending US Open champion Martin Kaymer – in fact he prefers it that way.
The German, 50/1 with Paddy Power this week, is looking to become the first player to win back-to-back US Open titles since Curtis Strange in 1989, although he is some way off the kind of form that saw him complete wire-to-wire victories at both the US Open and Players Championship last year.
After blowing a 10-shot lead in the Abu Dhabi Championship in January and finishing fourth a fortnight later in Dubai, Kaymer has missed the cut in four of his nine events, with a best finish of joint 18th in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
Unsurprisingly, all the focus ahead of Chambers Bay has been on World No 1 Rory McIlroy, Masters champion Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson and his quest for a career grand slam.
That suits Kaymer just fine.
“A lot of times I’m under the radar, I feel like, which is fine,” Kaymer said. “Obviously the other guys, they should get a lot of credit for what they have done.
“Jordan, what he has done this year (in the Masters), probably must have felt for the others how I played Pinehurst. It was impressive to watch that he didn’t miss many putts. He played still very aggressively down the stretch the last few holes.
“Then what Rickie [Fowler] did at the Players, how bravely he played. And then obviously Rory and those guys they’re all four or five years younger than me, so they should get the credit for what they have achieved.
“My win was already 12 months ago. So I think what they’ve done more recently is more important than my win last year.”
Do you think Kaymer can emulate Strange’s feat more than 25 years ago and become a repeat US Open winner? If so, head on over to Paddy Power to back your man.
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