Martin Kaymer, bolstered by his recent performances, is looking forward to this week’s challenge at Real Club Valderrama in the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters.
The former world number one has always made it clear how much he loves the 1997 Ryder Cup venue and comes into this event with renewed confidence after battling for the title last week at the ISPS Handa UK Championship at The Belfry, where he came within one stroke of a playoff and finished third.
The German, winner of two majors, wants to use last week’s performance as a springboard as he continues his preparation for the U.S. Open, a tournament he won in 2014, in a fortnight’s time at Winged Foot.
Meanwhile, last week’s champion, Rasmus Højgaard, is also in top form after claiming the second title of his rookie season, a triumph that adds to the one achieved in December at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.
The Dane became the second youngest player in the history of the European Tour to achieve more than one victory, at the age of 19 years and 171 days.
Højgaard was praised by the 2018 Ryder Cup captain, who expects great things from his young compatriot in the future. This week, Bjørn returns to the course where he made his Ryder Cup debut in 1997 and began the journey culminated two years ago with his victorious captaincy in Paris.
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Player statements
Martin Kaymer: “I’m confident. Certainly more so than last week, although it was disappointing to hit the 17th tee. I was surprised because it was the most accessible tee for me. I didn’t take advantage of the opportunity that came my way and that disappointed me, but I have to make a lot of positive readings from what happened last week.”
“Valderrama is one of the three courses I like the most in the world. If the tournament wasn’t played at Valderrama, I probably wouldn’t have come to Spain. It is a very special place for me. I’ve always wanted to win here, and I take every opportunity I get to come and compete on this course.”
“The great asset of this golf course is that you don’t need to make four or five under par every day. You have to keep the ball in play and par is a very good score. You don’t have to put pressure on yourself to make five or six birdies a day.”
“It’s a golf course where you have to hit the ball well, not a putting contest. You have to move the ball with all the spin, so it’s more playing golf than attacking. That’s what I like most about the course.”
Rasmus Højgaard: “I feel great. It was great to get my second win and it was all very quick. It’s going to take a while to sink in. It’s hard for me to identify the key. I’ve been at a very good level since the British Masters and I’ve been patient. That’s probably the key to my success on the UK tour.
“(Valderrama) is amazing. It’s an impressive course, with great maintenance. You have to hit the ball very well to get a result. It’s a wonderful place.
“If you play well you can gain a lot of ground in the standings. I’ve seen the winning scores over the last few years and you don’t beat -15 or -18, you beat around -10. If you get under par in a round you’ve done really well.”
Thomas Bjørn: “My most outstanding memory of Valderrama is being on the practice range during the opening ceremony of the 1997 Ryder Cup. The King of Spain came, Seve was captain and being part of that team will always be unforgettable for me.”
“That’s how my wonderful relationship with the Ryder Cup began. Sharing a team with my heroes was very special to me.”
The Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters, a European Tour tournament valid for the Race to Dubai that is held thanks to the essential collaboration of the Real Club Valderrama, is sponsored by Estrella Damm and the Ministry of Tourism, Regeneration, Justice and Local Administration of the Andalusian Regional Government, as well as being co-financed with European funds, declared an Event of Exceptional Public Interest by the Spanish Government, and supported by the Royal Spanish Golf Federation and the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation.
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