Golf: Kaymer looks to gain 'home' advantage

MARTIN KAYMER is hopeful "home" advantage will help him secure his first victory at the Waste Management Phoenix Open this week.

The world No.8 golfer from Germany knows the Arizona course well having used it as a training base for a number of years during the winter. Kaymer has used the venue to escape the cold weather in his homeland, but despite his intimate knowledge is yet to taste success at the event.

"Some friends of mine have lived here for more than 20 years and four years ago I asked them if I can come over for practice in the winter, because in Germany obviously it was too cold," Kaymer said. "They said, 'Yeah, come over and practise for a couple of weeks' and I liked it straight away."

Two-time winner Phil Mickelson will return to action after he skipped last week's WGC-Accenture Match Play to spend time with his family.

The left-handed world No.3 will form a marquee group on the opening two days alongside Ian Poulter, who claimed his first success on US soil at TPC Scottsdale last week, and Sony Open winner Ryan Palmer.

Mickelson has won the event twice before, in 1996 and 2005, and lost a play-off to JB Holmes in 2008.

Mark Calcavecchia, 49, is aiming to become only the third player to win a PGA Tour event in four decades after victories in 1989, 1992 and 2001. The other players to achieve the feat are Raymond Floyd and Sam Snead.