Kaymer hopes to join countryman Langer as Masters champ

Martin Kaymer said recounting all of the knowledge that two-time Masters Tour­na­ment champion Bern­hard Langer has to offer about Augusta National Golf Club would be a bit impractical.

“It would take a long time to discuss that,” Kaymer said Monday after the two greatest German golfers in history completed a tour of the second nine.

Kaymer is soaking it up like a sponge and said the wisdom Langer has imparted, along with the swing changes he undertook with Augusta National in mind, may yet result in adding the Masters and the British Open to his U.S. Open title at Pinehurst last year and the PGA at Whistling Straits in 2010.

“I just hope I have the chance one day to win the Open and to win the Mas­ters,” said Kaymer, the world’s 14th-ranked player. “You can’t really predict the outcome, but you can work for it to have a chance. In order to be successful, you just need the chance and you need to be prepared. I know I’m going to be prepared. It’s the chance I need.”

Kaymer’s stroke average in his first four Masters starts, all missed cuts, was 74.3. He’s lowered that to 73.6 in qualifying for the weekend the past three years. Though he has broken par only twice (in 2009 and 2013) and never shot in the 60s, it’s still progress.

Kaymer has improved his position in each of the past three years, tying for 44th, 35th and 31st. While he’s developed more of a draw on demand to better attack many of the key holes, Kaymer said inconsistent putting has cost him the opportunity for better finishes.

Kaymer said the short game and putting would be the key to winning the Masters – just like any other tournament.

“We can all hit the ball fairly straight,” he said. “I think you need to have good weeks on the green. At the Players Championship (he won last year) my short game was very good … made a lot of up-and-downs, especially from the bunkers, and didn’t miss many putts. The same at the U.S. Open. The great tournaments I’ve had in the past, it always came down to the putting.”

Kaymer said another enjoyable part of playing with Langer is that the 57-year-old, who won his second Cham­pions Tour Charles Schwab Cup last year, still has plenty of gas in the tank. Langer has finished ahead of Kaymer at the past two Masters, beating him by one shot in 2013 and by five shots last year when he tied for eighth.

“Playing with him can be quite frustrating because … you should be able to do certain things better because you are younger, but you are not,” Kaymer said. “This is very, very impressive to see.”

Langer said he’s never been grouped with Kaymer in a competitive round at the Masters, so he couldn’t give a reason why Kaymer has struggled at Augusta.

“I didn’t see him hit shot after shot after shot,” Langer said. “I know he hasn’t scored as well as he’s wanted to. His game looks OK.”

Kaymer sure hopes so.

“Because of his experience, I believe that is the most valuable thing you can give to someone,” Kaymer said. “Because you experience it yourself and not just read about it.”