Capelle On Golf

Martin Kaymer did win the PGA, though you’d be hard pressed to know it considering the media’s coverage following Dustin Johnson’s unfortunate two shot penalty on the 18th hole that kept him out of the playoff. Take the Golf Channel, which spent the first 20 minutes of its wrap up show talking about Johnson’s tragic mistake.

I, however, am going to concentrate on Kaymer, who beat Bubba Watson in a playoff. The first thing you need to know is that I predicted his win in last Tuesday’s post. I quote myself: “If I was forced to take one, it would be Kaymer. He’s won three times on the European Tour in the last 15 months and he’s finished in the top 10 in the last two majors.” The second thing you should now is that I did not follow my own advice, thereby costing myself a cool five grand.

Kaymer has been flying under the radar for the last three years even though he’s only 25, having won five events on the European Tour on his way to the #13 position in the WGR. That he was able to avoid the scrutiny of the American golf media while playing world class golf could be the biggest secret to the low key German’s success.

Consider this evidence: I regularly check out ASAP, which houses transcripts of interviews at important championships. Kaymer was not one of those interviewed on Tuesday. Fair enough, I suppose. But even after shooting a 68 on Friday for a 36 hole total of 140, he was ignored by the media. Finally, after a 67 on Saturday moved him into contention at -9, four back of Nick Watney, his words of wisdom appeared on ASAP.

It would seem that Kaymer has perfected the art of winning in the most boring way possible - no fist pumps, no colorful ensembles, no outrageous quotes. Instead, he’s more like an accountant going about his business. Consider his modest goals. “That was my plan, to secure my card for next year, I think already before that tournament, I had enough money to play and I’m excited to play next year,” said Kaymer. Right. Now, after his win, he’s the #5 ranked player in the world, yet he was worried about qualifying for the PGA Tour.

The last two players who followed such a precise game plan for superstardom were Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Both had a program that included consistent progress towards the ultimate goal of winning majors. Kaymer appears to be following their script, which included his plan for winning majors:

Well, I think it’s a matter of putting yourself in contention all the time, and I really don’t think that you can win your first major when you’re in contention your first time. I think it takes some time. I’ve put myself in position already a couple times last year, and this year, so I know how it feels going into the final round having a chance to win.

He also set a goal of moving up the ladder that would motivate him, yet keep the pressure off.

But for me, a very good final score would be Top-5. Of course, if I have a chance to win, of course I will do everything to win that tournament. But I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself.

The cameras were forced to follow the laid back German once he took the lead on the sixth hole, then hung near the top the rest of the day. And what we saw from this media shy player was a very cool customer going about his business, much like Nicklaus in his prime. He followed his game plan, which called for strategic tee shots that left him longer approaches on some holes, such on 10 and 15. It proved to be very effective as his card showed only one bogey on Sunday against three birdies - the kind of rock solid golf that Nicklaus played in winning those 18 majors.

Another part of Kaymer’s winning strategy was his ability to make big putts when they counted the most. On the 72nd hole, he rolled in a 15 foot par putt to tie Bubba Watson, who had completed play. Then, after falling a stroke behind after one hole of the three hole aggregate playoff, he hit a brilliant iron 230 yards on the treacherous 17th to within 12 feet, then calmly rolled it in to tie Watson.

On the 18th, Kaymer went into strategy mode again after Watson hit his second in the creek. Kaymer must have figured he was going to score a five at best, but probably a six, so after hitting his drive into the rough, he played a super conservative layup, then hit his 160 yard approach to within 20 feet to all but claim his first major.

So, Martin Kaymer is your 2010 PGA champion, and a most worthy one who will be impossible to forget for these two big reasons: 1) he won this major with three holes of top flight golf after the Johnson fiasco, giving us plenty of shots and time to remember him by, 2) he will win several more majors, every time reminding us of his first. Here’s what he took from the experience, words that could have just as easily come from Nicklaus and Woods as their rocket ships took off:

Obviously it (the tying putt on 18) was a very important putt, but for me, for my future, I think it’s very important that I know whatever happens, I can make those very, very important putts.

And …

The majors, they are the biggest tournaments we play, and just knowing that I can win a tournament like that gives me huge confidence for any other tournament I will play for the rest of my career.

When Kaymer does go on to become one of the top two or three players of the post Woods’ Peak Era, if not the best, nothing should be allowed to detract from his accomplishments.