Race to Dubai leader Kaymer to skip US PGA Tour

Dubai: He could well conquer the European Tour with success at the Dubai World Championship this weekend, but Race to Dubai leader Martin Kaymer won't be eyeing the bigger prize of a transition into the US PGA Tour next season.

Having won a Major [the PGA Championship in August] Germany's Kaymer, the current world number three, is eligible to a five-year exemption into the full US Tour — what has been widely regarded as the pinnacle of professional golf.

However Kaymer told a press gathering at the Earth Course in Jumeirah Golf Estates, in anticipation of The Dubai World Championships, which runs from November 25-28, that he had chosen not to feature in the PGA next season.

"I consider the European Tour as my home. That is where I feel comfortable. I think you play against the best players in the world, with the number one in the world, Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, you have the greatest players here," said Kaymer, who added he would probably play two or three events in America —Arizona, the Florida Swing, possibly Bay Hill or Transition and then Doral.

"Schedule-wise, it doesn't fit for me next year to play in the PGA Tour. That's why I decided to play here." Asked if the tables had turned in global golfing dominance with regard to the European and US PGA tours Kaymer said, "European golf has grown stronger in recent years, with all respect to the PGA Tour it's still a very tough tour. But you should never underestimate the European players as shown in the Ryder Cup recently."

Battle for top spot

Kaymer added, "Wherever you play you can't say which is better or worse. It's still a challenge. You can become number in the world playing in Europe, which is nice to see."

It was queried as to whether Kaymer had had a crying phone call asking for him to reconsider, but Kaymer retorted "not yet, maybe I'll get one on Monday," an obvious reference to Kaymer's battle for European number one spot at the Dubai World Championships, which wraps up on Sunday.

Kaymer goes in 290,910 euros (Dh 1.43 million) ahead of Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, the only player who can overtake him. Kaymer's decision comes after some speculation with the German spending most of his time practising in Arizona, his second home away from his native Dusseldorf, with his girlfriend, US-born Allison Micheletti.