Martin Kaymer, reinforced by his latest performances, is impatient to face the challenge of Real Club Valderrama this week at the Estrella Damm NA Andalucía Masters.
The former world number one has always made it clear how much he loves the 1997 Ryder Cup venue and comes to this event with renewed confidence after fighting for the title last week at the ISPS Handa UK Championship at The Belfry, where he was only one stroke away from contesting the tiebreaker and finished third.
The two-major winner German wants to use last week’s performance as a springboard as he continues his preparation for the US Open, a tournament he won in 2014, in fifteen days at Winged Foot.
For his part, last week’s champion Rasmus Højgaard also comes at an optimal moment after claiming the second title of his rookie season, a triumph that adds to that 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, achieving it at 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 field where he debuted in the 1997 Ryder Cup and began the journey culminating two years ago with his victorious captaincy in Paris.
Player statements
Martin Kaymer:“I arrive with confidence. Of course, with more than last week, although it was disappointing to hit the 17th start. I was surprised because for me it was the most accessible start. I did not take advantage of the opportunity that was presented to me and that disappointed me, but I have to do a lot of positive readings of what happened last week.
“Valderrama is one of the three courses that I like the most in the world. If the tournament was not played in Valderrama, surely he would not have come to Spain. It is a very special place for me. I have always wanted to win here, and I take advantage of all the opportunities that arise from coming to compete in this field ”.
“The great advantage of this golf course is that it is not necessary to do four or five under par every day. You have to keep the ball in play and par is a very good result. You don’t have to push yourself to make five or six birdies a day. ”
“It is a golf course where you have to hit the ball well, not a putting contest. You have to move the ball with all effects, so it’s more to play golf than to attack. This is what I like the most about the field ”.
Rasmus Højgaard: “I feel very good. It was great to get my second win and everything was very fast. It will take a while to assimilate. I have trouble identifying the key. I’ve been at a very good level since the British Masters and I’ve been patient. That is probably the key to my success on the UK tour ”.
“(Valderrama) is amazing. It is an impressive course, with great maintenance. You have to hit the ball very well to get results. It is a wonderful place ”.
“If you play well you can gain a lot of ground in qualifying. I’ve seen the winning results of the last few years and it doesn’t beat with -15 or -18, but around -10. If you manage to get off par in one round, you have done very well ”.
Thomas Bjørn: “My most outstanding memory of Valderrama is being on the practice field 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.”
“This is how my wonderful relationship with the Ryder Cup began. Sharing a team with my heroes was very special to me.”
HeEstrella Damm NA 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 Department of Tourism, Regeneration, Justice and Local Administration of the Board of Andalusia, in addition to being co-financed with European funds, declared an Event of Exceptional Public Interest by the Government of Spain, and backed by the Royal Spanish Golf Federation and the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation.
