Martin Kaymer admitted that playing at this week’s BMW PGA Championship, The European Tour’s flagship event, felt like returning home as the reigning US Open Champion aims for a first title since that impressive eight-shot victory at Pinehurst last June.
The World Number 18 arrives on European soil for the first time this season, having enjoyed a strong Desert Swing which yielded top five finishes at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship – where he led going into the final round – and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
Having claimed four top 20 finishes at Wentworth Club in the last seven years, the German is hoping that he can finally put himself into contention over the West Course but, while he feels he is coming into some form, he knows that he must be patient with his game.
“It's been a long time (since last playing in Europe),” said the 30 year old, who tees it up alongside 2014 Ryder Cup team-mates Rory McIlroy and Jamie Donaldson at 08:35 on Thursday.
“Obviously I played a couple tournaments in the Middle East, in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. But the last time that I was back in Europe, it was probably the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
“It's even nicer to come back here (to Wentworth), feeling really like home. Even though it's not my home country, it is where I feel the most comfortable.
“I think it's normal, when you are in America, you like to play in America but as a European, you like to come here, and especially to the home of The European Tour.
“The last couple weeks I have played well. Obviously a couple things here and there, but that's normal.
“I said to my caddie yesterday, I'm really excited about the next few weeks and months, because I know things will fall into place sooner or later, and when you practise hard, it's almost unavoidable to have success. So it will happen, it's just a matter of being patient, but that is sometimes very difficult for athletes.”
Wentworth feels like home.
Martin Kaymer
Luke Donald, meanwhile, returns to a very happy hunting ground this week, having claimed back to back wins at the BMW PGA Championship in 2011 and 2012 – both times claiming the World Number One spot courtesy of victory at the Surrey venue.
The Englishman has since slipped to 60th in the Official World Golf Ranking but he is hoping that the good memories will come flooding back this week and boost him to a strong performance and a return to the kind of form which helped him to win The Race to Dubai four years ago.
“Of course you always enjoy coming back to a place where you've had a lot of success,” said the 37 year old, who will play the opening two days with American Brooks Koepka and England’s James Morrison, winner of last week’s Open de España.
“Obviously some of my best successes on the golf course have been here - 2011 obviously was a playoff against Lee (Westwood) and then winning again in 2012 - and having a pretty good chance to win last year, as well.
“So hopefully it's a place that will spark me to kind of get this season started a little bit. Obviously coming back to a place where you play well always helps.
“The last few weeks and month or so, I've gotten in some really good, focussed practice. I feel like I'm on the right path again. It's obviously not been a great run for me the last year. It's a little bit how golf is, it ebbs and flows, from going through a swing change and going back, it's been a little bit tough at times.
“I feel like my focus is in the right position right now, what I've been working on, and hopefully that will transpire into some good results.”
