MARTIN KAYMER HAS not troubled headline writers too much since he clinched the 2012 Ryder Cup for Team Europe.
The German is back in form, however, and leads the way at The Players Championship, at Sawgrass, following a superb opening round of 63. Kaymer’s putting was immaculate and he regularly sank testers from between the 10 and 15ft mark.
His 9-under round was two better than America’s Russell Henley with Sang-Moon Bae a shot further back. Graeme McDowell is 3-under and Rory McIlroy is a shot behind after an opening round of 70. It could have been so much better for the 25-year-old but he dropped three shots coming home.
Phil Mickelson’s hot and cold form was decidedly frosty on Thursday as he carded 75. The notorious island green at the par three 17th went easy on the field of 144 golfers. Only 12 players found the water but Hunter Mahan and former TPC champion Adam Scott, who shot 75 for his round, were two of its victims.
