I Needed Something New’ – Martin Kaymer Explains LIV Golf Move
Martin Kaymer has explained why he signed with LIV Golf after a memorable career on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour.
The 37-year-old secured 23 professional wins, including two majors, before being unveiled as one of the start-up’s first players for the inaugural event at London’s Centurion Club in June. This success also led to Kaymer reaching world No. 1 in 2011. However, despite an enviable career record, the German decided to turn his back on traditional tours.
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Speaking to 5 Live Sport for its All About podcast on the history of LIV Golf, Kaymer revealed he wasn’t happy with the way the PGA Tour and DP World Tours are being hosted. He said: “I’ve never really taken advantage of my PGA Tour membership – I’ve never really liked living in America for 12 months and that’s what I think you have to do to be on the PGA Tour. That’s Me I’m a big fan of the European Tour and I loved all the tournaments and the venues they used to have, but where the Tour is going now, especially working with the PGA Tour, it’s ultimately bringing me back to the PGA Tour bring where I don’t want to be.”
Instead, Kaymer turned to the organization led by Greg Norman, which he feels came at the perfect time in his career. He said: “It was fun, more inspiring and motivating again. I needed something new in my career and I did that for 15 years, played both tours, now I have a family, I needed something different, and then LIV Golf came along and I was like, ‘This is me.’”
Kaymer famously played a pivotal role in Europe’s Ryder Cup comeback in 2012, beating the USA – dubbed the Miracle of Medinah – when he potted a putt on the 18th of the final day as the team started a four- Points deficit overcame winning day. Despite his history with the competition, however, he says he has made peace with the possibility of having played his last Ryder Cup tournament.
He said: “I’ve won a lot of Ryder Cups, I’ve won a couple of Majors, I’ve had a nice career in traditional golf I’d say and of course I’d like to do more of those tournaments, but if that’s not going to be then then I’m totally fine because it’s a choice you make being out here and if that’s the only tour I’m going to play for the next few years then I’m totally happy with it.”
But despite Kaymer’s openness about his future, he still believes LIV golfers should be able to play in the big tournaments – at least for the sake of the fans. He said: “I think the Majors and the Ryder Cup should be open to everyone, they should be the best players in the world – they should play in those events. If the European Tour and the PGA Tour want to stick to their people, that’s fine with me because I made a decision to play LIV golf and that’s it. The people, the fans want to see the best players in the world. They want to see Dustin Johnson and these guys and that’s what these tournaments are for – to see the best players in the world.”
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