Martin Kaymer is somewhat reluctant to refer to himself as a local player at this LIV Golf Andalucía. “After all, I am German, I am still a guest around here, even though I play a lot in Valderrama,” he tells Ten Golf. Be that as it may, the reality is that none of the golfers playing this week in Sotogrande have a house closer to the coliseum of Robert Trent Jones. Just a few minutes away. He bought it last year and lived here for about five months in winter. He may not consider himself a local player, but the German has adapted to the environment like a glove.
“Life in Spain is being very positive, very welcoming people. Álvaro Quirós and his wife María have helped us a lot to better understand this place, to go to restaurants, with our children at school, to feel part of this community. They have been very pleasant,” says the Teuton who has found in this part of the province of Cádiz an ideal place, although he admits the existence of an obstacle to moving permanently to Spain. “The energy here is very positive, we really like living in this place. We would like to move here someday, but to be honest it is not going to be easy because of the tax issue,” he explains.
Certainly, the reasons for buying a house in Spain and, more specifically in Sotogrande, are resounding. “We have always had the base in America, but between any place in America and Sotogrande, we would always choose Sotogrande. This is more like us. The people here are very authentic, we feel more part of here and Germany is only two and a half hours flight away. I can go home quickly, friends can come here for the weekend… I couldn’t do that in Florida. I have felt a very good energy here, it is a very authentic place,” he affirms.
That positive energy of Sotogrande also envelops his golf today. His results have improved a lot this year and it seems that the best Kaymer is just around the corner. The German is optimistic, but cautious. He does not hide and explains what he thinks he lacks to return to his best level. “I would say I am at 80 percent of my best version. I still need to work on some things, but I am very close. I am waiting for the big results. I have to be patient, but at the same time I must be mentally prepared to be successful again. I have been a long time, three, four years, without success, playing without chances of victory and when I get back, I have to be prepared to finish the job, to close the tournament. I think it is more mental, also some shots, but above all it is getting used to playing good golf again,” he affirms.
As for his game, specifically, Kaymer is clear about where he needs to fine-tune. “My irons are fine, my drive is good, I need to improve my short game. I have left some shots around the green and on the greens and I need to fix that to have more options in the future”. This week will be a good test of fire. The greens of Valderrama are getting harder and harder and the rough around the green is powerful.
Of course, the Ryder Cup is always on Kaymer’s horizon. No competition fills him like the Ryder, whether as a player or as a captain. “The Ryder Cup is always the last big goal, to return to that competition. I don’t know if I will play it, but just the fact of having the opportunity to qualify, would be something very good. The Ryder Cup is the best moment of my career and if someday the Ryder is played in Germany and I could be the captain, it would be something incredible. But I fear that there are still many things that need to be resolved to get to that,” he points out.
“I hope Álvaro Quirós finds a way to play golf at the level he knows and can”
Martin Kaymer, about Álvaro Quirós
Kaymer wishes that his return, increasingly closer, is not the only one of a player from the ‘zone’. When asked about Álvaro Quirós he is clear. “I talk a lot with Álvaro. A couple of months ago we played the par 3s here and we were talking about our careers, the things we are working on and how we could get back to our level. Álvaro understands golf very well, but at the same time he puts a lot of pressure on himself. He is playing very good golf, but he needs to do it in tournaments. I hope he finds a way to play golf the way he knows and can. We have been friends for almost 20 years, we met in amateur competitions. I expected him to have an even better career, I’m sure he expected the same, but many times you have to take a step back to go forward. I don’t know what he has to do, only he knows, but I hope he finds a way to play at the level he can”.
