Tag: Martin Kaymer

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Panorama

A Golf Year in Review 2024: The Emotional Highlights

The 2024 Golf Year in Review: Moments That Moved the Golf World. (Photos: Getty)

Golf in 2024 was marked not only by outstanding performances on the course but also by moments off the greens that highlighted the human side of the sport. From personal milestones to emotional victories, this year was filled with stories that went beyond birdies and bogeys.

An Alpine Fairytale Wedding: Martin Kaymer’s Personal Highlight

Martin Kaymer turned Castle Elmau in the Bavarian Alps into a picturesque venue for love and camaraderie. Celebrating with his wife Irene Scholz, Kaymer hosted a festive wedding ceremony two years after their private vows. Their son Sam, born in early 2022, took part in the festivities, carrying the rings in a touching moment. Fellow golfers, including Adrian Meronk, shared glimpses of the joyous occasion.

A Painful Loss: Grayson Murray’s Absence Felt Deeply

On May 25, 2024, the golf world was stunned by the tragic news of Grayson Murray’s passing. The 30-year-old, who had celebrated victory at the Sony Open earlier in the year, took his own life after a long struggle with mental health challenges.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan remarked, “We lost not only a talented golfer but also a unique individual. The Tour is like a family, and this loss affects us all deeply.”

Olympic Gold: Scottie Scheffler Reaches a Career Pinnacle

The Olympic golf event at Le Golf National became the stage for an intense final. Scottie Scheffler secured the gold medal with a flawless 62 in the last round, clinching the title with a decisive birdie on the 17th hole.

During the medal ceremony, Scheffler tearfully sang the U.S. national anthem as the flag was raised.

Bernhard Langer’s Final Curtain in Europe

Bernhard Langer, the German golf legend, bid farewell to European tournaments in 2024. Despite an Achilles tendon injury that nearly ended his season, the 66-year-old returned to compete in the BMW International Open, his last major European event.

The crowd honored Langer with standing ovations, acknowledging a career that spanned decades. Teeing off with Martin Kaymer and Marcel Siem, Langer reflected on the changes in the game, joking, “The courses are getting longer, and I’m getting shorter.”

Rory McIlroy: US Open of Missed Opportunities

The US Open 2024 at Pinehurst was supposed to be Rory McIlroy’s long-awaited breakthrough, nearly a decade after his last major victory. With a two-shot lead over the final five holes, everything seemed to be going according to plan. But the drama unfolded: two short putts, missed at the 16th and 18th holes, cost McIlroy the title. McIlroy left the course without comment and withdrew from public life for several weeks. Later, he admitted, “It was a tough day, probably the hardest of my career.”

Bryson DeChambeau: Major Win and a Path Back to the Fans’ Hearts

While McIlroy faltered down the stretch, it was Bryson DeChambeau who emerged as the hero at Pinehurst. With a spectacular bunker shot on the 18th hole, which he later called “the shot of my life,” DeChambeau secured his second US Open title after his 2020 triumph. The victory was not only a sporting milestone but also marked a remarkable image transformation.

Once considered a polarizing figure, particularly due to his involvement in the LIV Golf controversy, DeChambeau showed a new side in 2024. In his post-win press conference, he dedicated the victory to his late father and golf legend Payne Stewart, who won the US Open at the same venue in 1999. “I wanted to do it for them,” he said, tears in his eyes.

His behavior on and off the course noticeably shifted. He engaged more with fans and earned praise for his emotional display. The US Open victory thus became both a sporting and personal triumph, symbolizing the evolution of a player committed to change.

A Rising Star: Robert MacIntyre Triumphs in Canada

The RBC Canadian Open 2024 was a breakthrough moment for Robert MacIntyre. The Scotsman demonstrated nerves of steel on a tense final day to secure his first victory on the PGA Tour.

It was not just the sporting achievement that made the story special. His father served as his caddie and shared the defining moment with him. “This is a dream I’ve shared with my dad since childhood,” said an emotional MacIntyre.

Team Spirit and Karaoke: McIlroy and Lowry Win in New Orleans

At the Zurich Classic, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry showcased the power of friendship on the course. With a playoff victory, the Irish duo clinched the title, proving how much fun golf can be as a team. “Winning with Shane by my side was something special. We’ve known each other for over 20 years – it makes this success even more meaningful.”

The fun didn’t stop on the course: after their victory, McIlroy and Lowry celebrated with gusto, surprising fans with a karaoke rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Images of the singing duo with their WWE-inspired championship belts went viral, making their win one of the year’s most entertaining moments.

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Panorama

Martin Kaymer: Wedding Celebration with Irene Scholz in the Alps

Martin Kaymer and his wife Irene Scholz were able to catch up on their wedding celebrations in an idyllic Bavarian setting. (Photo: Instagram@patriciakaymer)
Martin Kaymer and his wife Irene Scholz were able to catch up on their wedding celebrations in an idyllic Bavarian setting. (Photo: Instagram@patriciakaymer)

Martin Kaymer celebrated his wedding to Irene Scholz in style at the weekend. The couple had already married in a small civil ceremony in October 2022, but this was followed by a lavish celebration. The couple, who became parents to little Sam for the first time at the beginning of 2022, spent the special day with family, friends and some of Kaymer’s golfing colleagues.

 
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Ein Beitrag geteilt von Irène Kaymer (@_irenescholz_)

Martin Kaymer’s Wedding Celebration

Martin Kaymer and his wife Irene Scholz celebrated their civil wedding in Wiesbaden in October 2022 two years later. Back then, the former world number one and the sports scientist tied the knot in a very intimate setting. Both had already planned to make up for their big celebration with the most important people who had accompanied them on their journey so far. Last weekend provided the perfect opportunity to realise these plans.

The celebration took place in a breathtaking mountain setting at the exclusive Schloss Elmau. The German golf pro and his wife invited friends and family to a special weekend in the stunning Bavarian Alps to celebrate their love for each other.

 
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Ein Beitrag geteilt von Irène Kaymer (@_irenescholz_)

Her little son Sam, who was born in January 2022, was also there and was included in the celebrations. Irene Scholz shared her joy on social media that her son was able to take on this special role and humorously wrote that Sam was allowed to ‘bring the rings’ this time. In the posts, the couple were visibly moved and grateful for the celebrations and the people who took part.

Celebrity guests and team colleagues at the ceremony

In addition to close friends and the couple’s family, some familiar faces from the world of golf were also in attendance. Kaymer’s LIV Golf team-mate Adrian Meronk was among the guests and shared impressions of the celebration on his social media. Other personalities such as Leanne Hainsby and Benjamin Alldis were also present at the event. The celebration was accompanied by congratulations and warm comments from the golf world.

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LIV Tour

LIV Golf: These Stars Face Potential Relegation from the Tour

These LIV Golf players currently find themselves in the "Drop Zone." (Photos: Getty)

With just one event remaining in the 2024 LIV Golf season, the battle intensifies for players teetering near the bottom of the individual rankings. Players who finish 49th or lower are placed in the “Drop Zone,” meaning they’ll have to compete in the LIV Golf Promotions to secure a spot for the next season. While captains and contracted players are safe from relegation, many others are fighting to stay on the tour.

Team Captains in Safe Territory

Captains like Bubba Watson and Martin Kaymer are immune to relegation due to their leadership roles, but for some of their teammates, the situation is far more precarious. Watson currently sits in 52nd place, but his captain status shields him from any consequences. Similarly, Kaymer, who leads Cleeks GC, is safe despite finishing last season in the “Drop Zone.” For other players, however, the final event could decide their future on the tour.

Varner and Perez: On the Edge

Harold Varner III (47th) and Pat Perez (48th) are two notable names hovering near the relegation line. Both players need strong showings in the final event, LIV Golf Chicago, to avoid falling into the “Drop Zone.” Varner, who finished 7th in last year’s standings, is particularly feeling the pressure after an unexpectedly poor 2024 season.

Vincent, Grace, and Canter: Last-Ditch Effort

Scott Vincent (49th) has managed to stay just above the relegation line, with top-25 finishes in the last four tournaments, but he needs another solid performance to secure his place. Meanwhile, Branden Grace (50th) and Laurie Canter (51st) are in similarly precarious positions. Grace has had an inconsistent season, mixing high points with disappointing results, while Canter’s limited schedule — just two events — has left him little opportunity to climb higher in the rankings.

Players at the Bottom

At the lower end of the rankings, Kalle Samooja (53rd) and Kieran Vincent (54th) are in serious jeopardy. Both players entered the league via the 2023 Promotions but have struggled this season. Samooja is firmly in the “Drop Zone,” while Vincent, with only 2.47 points and just one top-20 finish this season, has also been unable to escape the bottom of the leaderboard.

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LIV Tour

LIV Golf: Martin Kaymer and Dustin Johnson in the field for first event

Martin Kaymer and Dustin Johnson will play in the LIV Golf Invitational Series. (Photo: Getty)
Martin Kaymer and Dustin Johnson will play in the LIV Golf Invitational Series. (Photo: Getty)

Speculation has been rife for a long time, but now the LIV Golf Invitational Series has announced the field for next week’s event at London’s Centurion Club. 42 of 48 players have already been selected for the three-round tournament, with a few spots still open. It was announced a few weeks ago that Martin Kaymer also wants to play in the team event, which is endowed with 25 million dollars. Besides the German Major winner, Bernd Wiesberger will also take part in the rival event to the PGA and DP World Tour. Surprisingly, Dustin Johnson has also changed his mind and is now the main mover of the event in the UK’s capital.

“Too compelling to pass up”

“Dustin has been contemplating the opportunity off-and-on for the past couple of years,” Johnson’s manager, David Winkle with Hambric Sports, said in a statement (Golf Channel). It was only in February that Dustin Johnson became one of many stars to declare his allegiance to the PGA Tour via a statement. “Ultimately, he decided it was in his and his family’s best interest to pursue it. Dustin has never had any issue with the PGA Tour and is grateful for all it has given him, but in the end, felt this was too compelling to pass up.” So the new competition series, financed by Saudi Arabian money, has succeeded after all in landing a real top-class player in the form of the world number 13 and two-time major winner.

Martin Kaymer in the mix, question about Mickelson

Moreover, the major winners and former world number one announced by Greg Norman can be found in the field of participants. As expected, Martin Kaymer will tee off at the Centurion Club alongside Johnson. In addition, there are names like Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen and Ian Poulter. Austrian Bernd Wiesberger will also take part in the opening event of the LIV Golf Invitational Series, as will other players from the DP World Tour, and will compete for the winner’s cheque of four million dollars (!).

Phil Mickelson, who was also linked to the new Saudi league, discarded himself with unspeakable statements with the PGA Tour and subsequently took time off, is incidentally not on the list published on Tuesday night. The six-time major winner, who also cancelled his title defence at the 2022 PGA Championship, is therefore unlikely to end his golfing break – as of now. However, only 42 of 48 starters have been announced. Five places are still to be left open for qualifiers from the Asian Tour, one place would then still be free. Jason Kokrak, who had openly flirted with the change, is also missing from the list.

LIV Golf Invitational Series criticised

The tournament series led by Greg Norman has been criticised because it is fed with money from the Public Investment Fund, which is largely in Saudi Arabian hands. The government of the state is accused of numerous human rights violations, which are supposed to be whitewashed with so-called “sports washing”. In the eight-tournament series, 48 players in twelve teams will compete against each other. Since there is no cut, even the last player will still receive a guaranteed fat cash prize. PGA Tour and DP World Tour had reacted to the requests of their players to be allowed to participate in the new competitive tour with tough rejections. It remains to be seen what the consequences will be for participation in the events of the LIV Golf Invitational Series.

The field of participants for the opening event

Oliver Bekker
Richard Bland
Laurie Canter
Ratchanon Chantananuwat (Amateur)
Hennie Du Plessis
Oliver Fisher
Sergio Garcia
Talor Gooch
Branden Grace
Justin Harding
Sam Horsfield
Dustin Johnson
Matt Jones
Sadom Kaewkanjana
Martin Kaymer
Phachara Khongwatmai
Sihwan Kim
Ryosuke Kinoshita
Chase Koepka
Jinichiro Kozuma
Pablo Larrazabal
Graeme McDowell
Jediah Morgan
Kevin Na
Shaun Norris
Andy Ogletree
Louis Oosthuizen
Wade Ormsby
Adrian Otaegui
Turk Pettit
James Piot (Amateur)
Ian Poulter
David Puig (Amateur)
JC Ritchie
Charl Schwartzel
Hudson Swafford
Hideto Tanihara
Peter Uihlein
Scott Vincent
Lee Westwood
Bernd Wiesberger
Blake Windred

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European Tour

2022 BMW International Open: Two million euros in prize money, plus the new BMW i7

Martin Kaymer last year at the BMW International Open 2021. (Photo: BMW Group)
Martin Kaymer last year at the BMW International Open 2021. (Photo: BMW Group)

A high-class field, led by Major winners Martin Kaymer, Sergio García and Louis Oosthuizen, has been confirmed for the BMW International Open (22nd to 26th June 2022, Golfclub München Eichenried). This year’s prize purse for the most iconic professional golf event in Germany, which BMW is staging for the 33rd time, stands at two million euros overall, making the BMW International Open the most lucrative German golf tournament.

Fully-electric luxury saloon at hole 17

As well as Kaymer, García and Oosthuizen, fans can also look forward to seeing Ryder Cup players Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) and Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP), reigning “DP World Tour Rookie of the Year” Matti Schmid (GER), and two more top German players, in Max Kieffer and Marcel Siem.

In 2022, the pros will have the opportunity to win an extraordinary Hole-in-One Car with an ace on the 17th hole (par 3). Even before it makes its world premiere in a few weeks’ time, the new BMW i7 has been confirmed as the prize. The world’s first fully-electric luxury saloon, and with a range of over 600 kilometres, the BMW i7 is bringing innovative driving pleasure to the streets.

Visitors can expect a first class event at the BMW International Open

“Everyone at BMW is excited that it looks likely that we will be able to welcome visitors and golf fans without any restrictions, as well as a fantastic field of players,” says Zana Koval, Head of Brand Experience BMW Deutschland. “As the organiser, BMW will raise the premium visitor experience to a new level. This is reflected in such a high-class and innovative Hole-in-One Car as the BMW i7.”

The great importance of sustainability is also shown by the shuttle fleet for the 2022 BMW International Open, which this year consists entirely of electrified vehicles – charged using green electricity, of course.

Day tickets, season tickets and VIP tickets for the Fairway Club are available from the online ticket shop (www.bmw-golfsport.com/tickets). Admission to the Pro-Am, on Wednesday 22nd June, is free of charge. However, visitors must order a free and personalised admission ticket in the ticket shop. Those interested can also find information on discounts in the ticket shop. Tickets can be returned up to three days prior to the event – 14 days in the case of Fairway Club tickets – and the ticket price will be reimbursed.

(Text: BMW Group)

Categories
Highlights Tours

European Tour: Kaymer hopeful of comeback win in Austria

Martin Kaymer hopeful of comeback win at Austrian Golf Open. (Image: Getty)
Martin Kaymer hopeful of comeback win at Austrian Golf Open. (Image: Getty)

Martin Kaymer has arrived at this week’s Austrian Golf Open, confident of clinching a result which can kick-start his 2021 campaign and help him back on the path to Ryder Cup and Major glory.

The two-time Major winner drove from his home in Germany to Diamond Country Club, in Atzenbrugg near Vienna, with his eyes on the prize as he targets a route back to the kind of form which made him a World Number One and 11-time European Tour winner.

Kaymer’s form has improved event-by-event this year and he enters this week following a top 20 finish in his last European Tour appearance at the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investments Advisors.

Home hope Matthias Schwab is regarded as one of the favourites this week, especially after a strong weekend in his most recent appearance at the Kenya Savannah Classic supported by Absa, where he carded 66-65 in the final two days to finish in a share of seventh place.

Another player who finished in a share of seventh position in the most recent event in Kenya is Joost Luiten, a man who has enjoyed an enviable record in this event – in his seven appearances he has recorded one win, two top threes, two further top tens and two further top 20s.

Martin Kaymer says he’s happy to be in Austria

“I like to come to Austria. It’s a nice country with good food, good golf courses. This week it’s a great golf course, it’s just the weather; nobody can influence it. It’ll be a good week and there will still be one winner on Sunday.

“I played 18 holes yesterday, which was an interesting one because it was almost snowing. It was very difficult to see how the golf course will play once the first day comes. Maybe the weather will improve a little bit, but I think it will be a battle.

“It’s difficult to see the ball flying with the cold. But it’s a week that I always prefer, it’s a country I like to come to, it’s close to my home country – I could drive here this week. There’s a lot of comfort for me.

“The top 50 in the world is huge, you can get into all of the Majors and the WGC events and once you can do that you can play yourself into events that I haven’t played in a couple of years, and I still haven’t given up on The Ryder Cup.

“The Ryder Cup is huge and it was a real pain not to be part of the team in France. I know I’m quite far away right now but I feel like I’m doing a lot of things right at the moment to have a good summer.

“If I could get a couple of big results, that would make a big difference for me. Knowing that I’m very close – or I feel like I’m close – but you still need the results. No one cares how you feel, as long as you don’t put the right results on the scorecard and that’s something I’m longing for.”

Matthias Schwab is finally back on home turf

“It’s always nice to have a home Open. I’ve played here quite a lot of times so I almost feel like I’m at home, although I live three hours from here. I think the first time was 11 years ago as an amateur and I’ve come back five, six, seven times, I’m not sure.

“I know the course, I know the people that work here, I know the head of the club and they’re all very friendly and I’d say they’re all fans of me, so I like to come back here and I hope to have a good week. 

“The home support is obviously not that big this year with no spectators but the local knowledge I think is nice to have, it is a bonus. Looking back, say in Kenya, I didn’t really know the course and I’m still quite new to the Tour, I consider myself quite new so a lot of time I go to places for the first time and I have to learn the course, the layout, the strategy and all that stuff, but here I don’t have to do that anymore.

“I’ve played the course enough times and I know the changes from the last year or two, I’d say. I feel good about the course; I know where to go and where not to go. Obviously it will play a little bit different in the conditions we face this year, but I think it’s definitely a bonus week.”

Joost Luiten is coming in with confidence

“I’m feeling good, the game is good. I had two weeks off, I’ve been practicing at home. I’m feeling ready to go this week. I’m using the practice days to get used to the conditions, it’s a bit nippy today!

“For some reason I like this course, it just suits my eye. You’ve got to hit the ball well, you’ve got to hit the greens so if I can play my game I know I can play well on this golf course and I know I can win on this golf course.

“It always helps when you’ve won in the past, you always go to that venue with a little bit more confidence and hopefully I can bring out on to the golf course this week.

“My game is always about consistency, hitting fairways and hitting greens and if I can putt well then I should be up there on Sunday which happened a couple of times. I couldn’t finish it last year but I think I’m very consistent with the ball-striking and if that’s there every week you’re never going to be far off scorewise.”

Text: European Tour