Kaymer on the right road as he bids for ‘double Dutch’

Martin Kaymer starts his bid to go “double Dutch” today knowing there is a big difference to this time last year.

First of all, the 26-year-old German has Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy to contend with at the KLM Open and they, like him, do not want to let another victory chance slip away after going close in Switzerland at the weekend.

Secondly, Kaymer’s four-stroke victory last September came in his first appearance after becoming a major champion and with his confidence at an all-time high. But he returns to the same Hilversum course now having gone over seven months without a win. On Sunday the world No 3 had a two-foot birdie putt to go two ahead with four to play but he missed it and ended up losing by four to Thomas Bjorn.

“It definitely feels like I will win again in the next couple of weeks,” said Kaymer. “I’m hitting the ball very well. I like the golf course and I can drive there from home – it’s only two hours away and it’s nice to have your own car.”

McIlroy has something he likes having around, too. His Twitter site has a picture he took on the flight over of the US Open trophy in its own seat, complete with safety belt on.

“It has to go everywhere with me these days,” the Northern Irishman tweeted. He came third in the European Masters but was encouraged by the fact that he had no problems with the right arm he injured against a tree root at the USPGA Championship last month.

“I’ll probably still get a little bit of physio this week just to make sure,” he said. “I’ve got a long stretch coming up and it was nice to start it on a positive note like that.”

McIlroy moved back up from sixth in the world to fourth as a result and he admits he has Kaymer, Westwood and No 1 Luke Donald in his sights.

“I’m not desperate, but it’s definitely a goal that I’ve set for myself and I feel as if it’s very attainable,” he said. “It might not be this year, but I can give myself a very good platform if I end the season well.

“Luke’s got a little bit of a lead at the minute and it would be nice to get closer to him.”

Back in action this week after injury lay-offs are France’s Thomas Levet and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts.

Levet fractured his shin and needed surgery after jumping in the lake celebrating his French Open victory at the start of July and two weeks later, just before The Open, China Open champion Colsaerts was in a scooter crash and hurt his elbow.