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Kaymer lands first European Tour win - and Betfair tipster called it!
Our Wednesday columnist TQ picks the first and second home in first big Tour event of 2008...
Martin Kaymer - available at [80.0] pre-tournament - sealed his first European Tour win in Abu Dhabi this morning.
Writing in his regular Wednesday preview, our man TQ said...
"With such a quality field assembled there is plenty of value throughout the market and a couple of savers would be advised. Martin Kaymer is the first to catch my eye at attractive odds of around 65.0. Kaymer is the finest young talent on the European Tour and in many ways reminds me of Stenson. He is a big strong player with a tremendous ability to tame a course. I think he is a cert for the Ryder Cup side and he may well start his points rolling this week."
After consecutive sub-70 rounds, the 23-year-old German wobbled at the outset of his final 18 holes, dropping shots at the fourth, fifth and sixth holes to give his rivals a chance.
Chief among his pursuers were Ryder Cup stars Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood - matched at lows of 2.54 and 3.0 respectively.
But it wasn't to be and Kaymer - trading at 1.17 before the fourth round - steadied the ship after the turn to come home safely and land the winner's cheque.
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Congratulations on a great selection.
I must say though, that Kaymer is far from a "cert" to reach the Ryder Cup. With this victory will come the inevitable dip in form - it's a bit like a snooker player making a 147 or a golfer having a hole in one - how many times do they perform to their best the very next frame or hole. Hardly ever is the answer.
Kaymer is good, but there are at least 6 or 7 Europeans who will outscore him in the Ryder Cup list - Harrington, Westwood, Dougherty, Stenson etc, who will all have great seasons. Then you have to calculate in the players who will make the team by playing abroad, Garcia and Rose to name just a few.
We just know that if Monty or Clarke don't make the team but are around 14th or 15th in the list, then they will have to be the 'picks'. Kaymer needs to win another tournament and finish top 10 in a few more at least to get an automatic place - as good as he is, I can't see it.
Northern Lad | 21 January 2008