The Open
July 16, 2014
Over the next four days, Germany may well find themselves cheering more sporting success as Martin Kaymer takes to the greens of Liverpool in search of another major.
With Germany recently having won the football World Cup, Martin Kaymer believes he can follow suit and deliver in just the same way.
"They [Germany] didn't try to force anything because they knew they were good enough. It was just about delivering what they can do," Kaymer told Reuters.
"Every team has a bad day here and there. Germany didn't play great against America. But they got away with it.
"That's the same at a golf tournament. You have a day when you don't play super good, but you hang in there and you play something around par that keeps you in the tournament."
With this year's US Open now next to his 2010 PGA title, Kaymer is no newcomer to delivering. Buoyed by his good form - he won the US Open by eight shots this year - and his own country's sporting success, Kaymer will be hoping he can raise golf's profile back home by winning another major.
Stealing the headlines though, will be the returning Tiger Woods. After confirming his fitness concerns are well and truly behind him, Woods comes to the 143rd British Open at a perfect time. This year's venue holds fond memories for the USA star. In 2006, Woods won his 12th major (of 14) at the Royal Liverpool club. This year though, he knows things are different.
"Well it's eight years on. My life has certainly changed since then," Woods said to the AFP news agency. He has arrived at Hoylake earlier than usual on Saturday to begin his preparations for the year's third major tournament.
"My life is very different than it was then. And then on top of that, this is a different golf course than what we played in '06."
Whoever stands top of the standings come Sunday evening, will clasp the coveted Caret Jug and pocket 975,000 pounds in the process - 30,000 pounds more than last year. Last year, Phil Mickelson won his fifth major title at Muirfield, carding three under par - a title he hasn't added to since.
Tee-off on Thursday is at 5:25 UTC, with England's David Howell, USA's David Duval and Sweden's Robert Karlsson the opening group. Tiger Woods tees off at 8:04 UTC in group 15, while Martin Kaymer starts much later at 12:38 UTC in group 39.
jh / rd (afp/Reuters)