PINEHURST, N.C. — As Martin Kaymer arrived to Pinehurst this week for the 124th U.S. Open, he found himself in a state of disbelief.
Of a number of things.
Firstly, he can’t belief it’s been 10 years since he won the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.
Secondly, he can’t believe he hasn’t won a single golf tournament since.
And thirdly, he can’t believe how difficult the golf course is today — somehow more treacherous than it was 10 years ago.
Kaymer was on top of his game and the golf world in 2014. He’d come to Pinehurst having won the Players Championship that spring and proceeded to demolish the U.S. Open field, winning wire-to-wire by a stunning eight shots.
Then a not-so-funny thing happened to him after that magical run of golf: Instead of the victory catapulting Kaymer into the stratosphere of a dominant couple of years, the 39-year-old from Germany has essentially disappeared into witness protection.
He’s playing on LIV Golf now and in a state of near obscurity.
So, this week Kaymer’s doing all he can to use the mojo from 10 years ago to his advantage. A self-described superstitious type, he’s gone as far as to not only stay in the same hotel he stayed in for the 2014 Open (the Carolina Hotel), but he’s in the same room.
“I don’t know if it helps,” he said. “It cannot hurt, I guess. I’m a little bit superstitious when it comes down to that. I think, regardless, it’s going to be a really nice week.”
This is possibly Kaymer’s last U.S. Open hurrah since his 10-year exemption into the tournament from his 2014 victory ends this week.
“The last time I was here was when I won,” Kaymer said. “I live in Germany, and it’s not really a place that you just swing by quickly for a couple days. Obviously, coming here with all those good memories, when I played [Tuesday] it felt like I left yesterday.”
Sometimes, reminiscing can be a healthy and useful tool. Sometimes, it can be a distraction and detriment. Kaymer hopes it’ll be helpful.
Earlier in the week, as he chilled out in his familiar hotel room, Kaymer watched a 20-minute highlight show of his 2014 win on the Golf Channel.
“It really stood out how well I putted within 10 feet,” he said. “I really avoided all the big numbers — double bogeys, triple bogeys — which can happen here quickly.”
Kaymer is under no illusions. He knows he’s not the same player he was.
“Obviously, my form is not as good as it was 10 years ago,” he said. “I won the Players Championship [and] I was in total control of my game. Right now, I’m on a very good path, and my mindset, I think, is very positive. I really look forward to the challenge.
“If you would have asked me that question [about his chances] three, four months ago, I would have been a little scared of this place. But now I have a lot of respect for the place, and I think I can do well here.
“Great players, they believe in their ability of playing well on tough golf courses. This week, maybe 50 percent of the field don’t believe in themselves that they can do well here because it is a scary track.”
Kaymer is determined to be among the other 50 percent, the part of the field that believes.
He conceded that, in his first practice round this week, “I was a little bit overwhelmed when I played the first four or five holes. I said to my caddie, ‘Had it been that hard 10 years ago?’ ”
Kaymer is disappointed that he hasn’t won in 10 years, and he’s trying not to dwell on the fact that so many players have passed him by in that time.
“I believe the biggest challenge is that you should not compare yourself to others,” Kaymer said. “It’s very easy to see the other guys having good results, winning events and you always go down that road: ‘If I would have done this or that.’
“Comparing yourself to others and what you are capable of doing, this is the wrong way of approaching it. But in our sport, it’s so fast living. You always are on to the next, the next tournament, the week after. And then everybody has forgotten about the week before that.”
Kaymer’s intention this week is to remember all he can about 2014 on Pinehurst No. 2 and draw everything he can from it.
