GOLF/EUROPEAN TOUR FRENCH OPEN:MARTIN KAYMER thinks he would cope better with the demands of being world number one if he can get back there. The 26-year-old knocked Lee Westwood off top spot in February and stayed there for eight weeks, but now finds himself down to fourth.
“I definitely had a little bit less time to practise and a little less time for family and friends because I had to do a lot of media,” Kaymer said on the European Tour website.
He is now in Paris for the Alstom French Open at Le Golf National – the course chosen to host the 2018 Ryder Cup.
“I had a lot of different requests that I was not used to having, but my management and my family and me are trying to organise everything as well as possible.
“It was fine. It was just a matter of getting used to it and if it were to happen again I would know what to expect and it would definitely be easier for me.”
To many people’s surprise the German tried to make swing changes for The Masters in April, but missed the cut there for the fourth season in a row.
He did then reach the semi-finals of the Volvo World Match Play in Spain before losing to Luke Donald – as he had in the final of golf’s other match play event in Arizona four months ago.
But his best finish since was 18th in Munich last weekend and that allowed US Open champion Rory McIlroy to join Donald and Westwood ahead of him on the rankings.
The English pair return to action at next week’s Scottish Open, while McIlroy is waiting for the British Open at Sandwich in a fortnight’s time.
Kaymer can claim third spot back with a top eight finish and will be expected to do far better than that on a course where he won two years ago and in a field that contains only one more of the game’s top 20 – American Bubba Watson.
It will be a brief appearance on this side of the Atlantic for the big-hitting left-hander as he plans to fly home at the end of the tournament before returning for the British Open at Sandwich.
“I’ve played the US Tour my whole career and I just wanted to experience a different culture, a different life, a different atmosphere,” Watson said.
“(But) how do I put this nicely? I want to have my own food for a few days then come back over.”
McIlroy was on the original entry list, but pulled out after his first Major victory. Fellow Ulsterman Darren Clarke is back in action, though, after missing last week’s event in order to join the 22-year-old’s celebrations.
“I really wanted to be there – I’ve known Rory since he was very, very young,” he said.
Also taking part are fellow Irish players Damien McGrane, Paul McGinley, Peter Lawrie, Shane Lowry, Gareth Maybin and Michael Hoey.
Clarke is exempt for the British Open, but Colin Montgomerie is among those who are not and now need a top-five finish either this Sunday or at Castle Stuart near Inverness to qualify.
The lowdown
Course: Le Golf National, Paris, venue since 1991.
Length: 7,300 yards. Par: 71.
Miguel Angel Jimenez became the oldest winner of the event in 2010, aged 46 years and 180 days.
Prize-money: €3 million, €500,000 for the winner.
Field: 156.
Defending champion: Miguel Angel Jimenez.
First played: 1906.
Most wins: Aubrey Boomer, 1921, ’22, ’26, ’29, ’31
On TV: Sky Sports 1
Weather: Sunny and bright, with light winds.
