NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — It seems many were caught off guard seeing Martin Kaymer leading the PGA Championship after the first round.
Here’s a little backstory:
After finishing with a 3-under 67 at Aronimink, Kaymer recounted a conversation from Tuesday night. He was at dinner with some champions when a guy from the PGA of America asked him if he planned to compete. Kaymer replied, “What do you mean? Of course I’m playing. I didn’t travel all the way from Europe just to hang out.”
He mentioned that this conversation fueled his motivation. He enjoys playing at Aronimink, calling it a fair test and a good match for the PGA Championship. He hopes to maintain his performance for the next three days.
Many tend to overlook Kaymer’s impressive past; the 41-year-old has won the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, and Players Championship, having once held the world No. 1 ranking.
Interestingly, it’s been a while since he finished in the top 10 of a major, with his last occurrence being tied for seventh at the 2017 PGA.
In recent years, injuries have plagued him, and he’s struggled in the LIV tour, almost facing demotion without the safety net of being captain of Creeks GC.
He expressed frustration, saying he had been dealing with problems since 2021 and underwent multiple surgeries during that time. It was disheartening not to compete actively in the LIV Golf League, and his injuries limited his practice time.
“I mean, everyone else was competing, and I couldn’t find the right balance between events. I kept showing up unprepared while others were ready to go. It was pretty frustrating,” he admitted.
Fortunately, after receiving good treatment in the past month, he no longer experiences pain, and he feels like things are improving. He’s enjoying practicing again and has rekindled his passion for golf.
Kaymer, known for his pivotal role in the Ryder Cup—especially after making the winning putt for Europe in 2012—lost his 2023 captaincy when he transitioned to LIV from the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
Luke Donald took over the captaincy, leading Europe to victory in the last two Ryder Cups, and now he’s aiming for a third consecutive win in 2027.
