Martin Kaymer

Martin Kaymer (born 28 December 1984) is a German professional golfer from Düsseldorf who has won 23 professional tournaments worldwide, including two major championships — the 2010 PGA Championship and the 2014 U.S. Open. He is a former World Number One, having reached the summit of the Official World Golf Ranking on 27 February 2011 and holding the position for 8 weeks. He currently captains Cleeks GC on LIV Golf. Kaymer turned professional in 2005 after a promising amateur career. In 2006, he dominated the EPD Tour with 5 wins in 14 starts — including a round of 59 — and also won twice on the Challenge Tour. His European Tour rookie season in 2007 earned him the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award, making him the first German to receive the honor and overtaking Bernhard Langer as Germany's highest-ranked golfer. His breakthrough came in 2008 with wire-to-wire victories at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and the BMW International Open — becoming the first German to win the latter in its 20-year history. In 2010, Kaymer had his breakout season: he won four European Tour events, including the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, making him only the second German major champion after Bernhard Langer. He finished the year as Race to Dubai champion, European Tour Golfer of the Year, and Players' Player of the Year. In February 2011, Kaymer reached World Number One, holding the position for 8 weeks. Later that year, he won the WGC-HSBC Champions, becoming the 10th player to win both a major championship and a World Golf Championship event. His most iconic moment came at the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah, where he holed the winning putt on the 18th green to complete the 'Miracle of Medinah' — Europe's historic comeback from 10-6 down to win 14½-13½. In 2014, Kaymer won THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass and followed it with a dominant U.S. Open victory at Pinehurst No. 2, winning by 8 strokes and setting a 36-hole championship record of 130 strokes. He was part of three winning European Ryder Cup teams (2010, 2012, 2014) across four appearances. Kaymer joined LIV Golf in 2022 as captain of Cleeks GC. Known for his calm demeanor, precision ball-striking, and clutch putting, he remains one of Europe's most respected golfers and a guiding presence in the LIV Golf league. His life philosophy — 'There are no shortcuts to success. No matter what you do, you have to put in the time and the effort' — reflects the discipline that took him to World Number One.