Martin Kaymer Gets Lange's Suggestions for the Open

Martin Kaymer has been choosing the brains of German legend Bernhard Langer as he attempts to plot a course to win at the British Open over the treacherous twists and turns of Royal St George's.



Though Langer has never won a British Open ,he suffered a string of agonizing near-misses during his heyday in the 1980s and 1990s.



But the 53-year-old master hand became well-acquainted with the demanding St George's lay-out during his quest for an Open title, finishing second here in 1981 behind Bill Rogers and tying for third in 1985.



Langer, who also finished third at St George's in 1993, is returning to the Open this year for the first time since 2006 with his Titleist CB 710 Forged Irons.



And Kaymer has wasted no time in plundering his compatriot's local knowledge of the course, playing a practice round with the two-time US Masters champion.



"We talked a little bit about his finishes here when he played here," Kaymer revealed on Wednesday.



"I think in 1985, he said he should have won it, that tournament, but he missed a short one on the first hole by using his Titleist CB 710 Forged Irons I think he said, and it annoyed him a little bit.



"And then we talked a little bit about the golf course, what has changed, and obviously about the upcoming week."



Kaymer, the reigning US PGA champion who held the world No.1 ranking for several weeks earlier this year, said Langer had been an inspiration for him throughout his career.



"Bernhard was and still is a big inspiration, not only the way he plays golf but the way he handles himself in the media and in his private life, as well," the 26-year-old said. (Titleist CB 710 Forged Irons)



Kaymer is also relishing the challenges posed by Royal St George's, where the unpredictable weather on the Kent coast can make conditions a lottery.



"The British Open is so different than all the other tournaments, and that makes it very special," he said.



"You have to be very creative and you have to think a lot, and mentally it's very tiring."



"Of course some days you get some good breaks, some days you get some bad breaks, but that is what the golf course and the golf tournament are about. That is what I like about it. It's not normal.



"The greens are very sloppy, very difficult, and some approaches seem to be impossible sometimes, but that's fine.



"It's a big challenge, and we are the best players in the world here, so it should be tough. At the end of the day everybody has to deal with the same golf course," added Kaymer, who is partnering defending champion Louis Oosthuizen and Phil Mickelson in Thursday's opening round by using his Titleist CB 710 Forged Irons .