Home favourite Martin Kaymer is hoping to benefit from his busy schedule as he finalises his Ryder Cup preparations at the Porsche European Open.
Kaymer, who finished in a share of 20th at last week’s weather-affected Italian Open, will tee it up at Golf Resort Bad Griesbach before heading straight to Minnesota to represent Team Europe in next week’s showdown.
After missing this event as it returned to the European Tour International Schedule last year, Kaymer was keen to take part in this year’s edition regardless of whether or not he made Darren Clarke’s team for Hazeltine.
And the 31 year old is not daunted by the prospect of playing several tournaments in a row.
He said: “Last year I couldn’t play this one, we have only two tournaments in Germany unfortunately so last year I played in Munich and this year I thought, because I had heard a lot of good things about the Porsche European Open, why not go there this year.
“Obviously I didn’t know I was going to be in The Ryder Cup at that stage, but I talked to Bernhard Langer about this event and I heard so many positive comments so I thought ‘let’s give it a go’.
“I’m the kind of guy who likes to play a few in a row and you shouldn’t talk too much about The Ryder Cup this week because I’m here to play this event as well as I can.
“But in the past it was always the case that I did well when I played three or four in a row, so it’s going to be long – especially with last week and the rain delays.
“This week is going to be a little bit busier for me than normal, obviously being in my home country, but even if I did know back then that I was in The Ryder Cup, I would have done the same thing.”
Kaymer will begin his opening round with little knowledge of the course after heavy rain forced the practice round and Pro-Am to be cancelled.
In the past it was always the case that I did well when I played three or four in a row - Martin Kaymer
However, the German is seeing the positive side. He added: “It will be interesting having not played the course. I think the last time that has happened for me was as an amateur.
“Usually we can always play on Tuesday or at least play the Pro-Am. It hasn’t really happened in my career so I don’t know the golf course and I have to go out later and walk it with Craig, then at least we’ve seen it once before we tee off and we just go.
“It’s not that bad a thing, sometimes we over-practice and over-prepare to just go out there, be open, and play.”
Kaymer will play his first 36 holes with another of Clarke’s captain’s picks, Thomas Pieters, and four-time Major Champion Ernie Els.
Big-hitting Belgian Pieters believes the course conditions will suit his game.
He said: “I quite like it that nobody gets to the course until tomorrow, we all just tee it up tomorrow morning and go. It’s not much different to any other week.
"It’s going to play very soft and long which will suit me, but we’ll see. It’ll be bumpy on the greens in the afternoon but it’s going to be the same for everybody so we’ll have to just deal with it and get on with it."
