As the man who completed Europe’s jaw-dropping, nail-nibbling, heart-pounding Miracle of Medinah in 2012, Martin Kaymer could probably walk into any clubhouse on this side of the pond and still be afforded the freedom of the drinks cabinet.
He’s not had much to toast in recent seasons, mind you. Without a win since he landed his second major title at the US Open six years ago, the canny, classy German had been cast so far adrift he just about had to put in an emergency call to the Air-Sea Rescue unit.
At one point in his slither down the global pecking order, the former world No 1 was flirting with the possibility of dropping out of the top 200.
Ahead of this week’s Qatar Masters, though, Kaymer is hoping the green shoots of recovery can flourish into some shimmering spring blossom.
The 35-year-old has started 2020 with a steady quartet of results – tied eighth, tied 16th, tied 13th, tied 10th – and there is certainly something stirring in the Ryder Cup hero again.
“I can’t really tell you where my game is at right now … which is the exciting thing,” he said.
In this pursuit, you have to expect the unexpected. Those golfing gods are quick to pounce on anybody they find resting on their laurels, after all.
“I was just going with the flow the last two or three years and took my game for granted a little bit,” admitted Kaymer, who has lost his exemptions for The Masters and The Open and is well out of the Ryder Cup picture at the moment.
A winter of hard graft on the areas of his game that had been holding him back seems to be bearing fruit now after a string of consistent performances in recent weeks.
“It was quite clear where the weakness was in my game as I was losing a lot of shots on the green,” said the man who holed a knee-knocker to end all knee-knockers during that momentous Medinah moment.
“From 10 to 12 feet out I couldn’t make a putt. I worked a lot on the short game over the winter and I also wanted to drive the ball further without screwing up my natural shot.
“You have to be brave with these things. It’s easy to try and change something but it doesn’t really go the way that you want it right away and then you fall back into your old habits.
“I know I’m doing the right thing but I’ve just got be patient and let it happen. I wanted to and needed to change something in order to become an even more complete player.
“The top 16 finishes (he’s had) have been consistent and it would be nice to make a couple more putts to actually have a chance to win.”
Winning was something Kaymer got used to during a period of plunder that saw him land 11 European Tour titles, including two majors, between 2008 and 2014.
“I really miss that feeling,” he added. “This year I have a very good plan and I’m trying to qualify for all the big events such as The Ryder Cup, Olympic Games, Masters and The Open Championship.
“I’ve played in all those events before but this year that’s not going to be the case so it’s something I’m looking forward to trying to achieve.”
Having joined forces for a third time with Craig Connelly, the vastly experienced Glasgow caddie who was by Kaymer’s side for some of his greatest moments, the good times may not be far away.
“He really understands me as a person and it’s nice once you’ve found somebody that you’ve been through the good and the bad times with,” Kaymer said.
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