Kaymer: My past record is not a huge advantage

Abu Dhabi: Record three-time winner of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Martin Kaymer insists his past brilliance will count for nothing when the event starts on Thursday.

Former world number one Kaymer claimed the Falcon Trophy in 2008, 2010 and 2011, but has not won a title since 2012 when he prevailed in the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa.

As such, given his slump in form, which has seen him slip to 43 in the world rankings, the 29-year-old is taking nothing for granted.

“Just because I won three times here doesn’t mean it is a huge advantage. I feel comfortable, that’s for sure, but every year is a new start.

“There are new players on tour and it is changing every year. The expectation is not like coming here and if I don’t win, it’s not like a disappointing start. There are more competitions, but I love coming here for sure,” added the 2010 USA PGA champion, who posted a superb winning total of 24-under par in 2011.

Kaymer believes the course is a lot tougher than what it has been in previous years. “The golf course has been difficult to play and I would say if you shoot two or three under every day, you have a realistic chance of winning. I don’t believe that one can shoot under-24 now,” he said.

Last season Kaymer reunited with his caddie Craig Connelly, from whom he had split the year before to team up with Christian Donald, brother of former World No 1 Luke Donald.

“Craig and me started working together from 2010, and because of some reasons we split up and I asked him if he could join me again. I had lot of fun with him and it was very important to have someone with whom you can get along. He takes a lot of stuff away from me.”

Meanwhile, Englishman Luke Donald said he is keen to show the fruits of a profitable practice session with coach Chuck Cook in Florida before he travelled to Abu Dhabi.

“It was nice to get in four solid days with Chuck before playing in a tournament with such a strong field and on a good golf course. The tournament demands very good golf from tee to green. It has tricky angles and you have to drive the ball well around here,” said the 36-year-old, who followed a good performance at the DP World Tour Championship in November last year, where he was tied for fifth place with Rory McIlroy, by successfully defending his Dunlop Phoenix title in Japan.

“Any time you win, it gives you confidence,” he said. “To play like I did, especially the last three rounds after I shot two-over on the first day, just to feel that control is what I was ultimately trying to achieve working with Chuck. So yeah, that was a step in the right direction.”