He went close in Wales and Sweden during the 2007 season but Martin Kaymer finally realised the joy of becoming a European Tour champion when he won his maiden title in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.
The 23 year old German – winner of The Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year on The European Tour last season – led from the first day and indeed began the last round with a six shot lead. He finally closed out the title and the €225,421 (£170,135) winners’ cheque with a final round 74 for a 15 under par total of 273. In the end the winning margin was four shots from the experienced duo of Sweden’s Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood of England who closed with respective rounds of 71 and 70 for an 11 under par total of 277, the victory seeing Kaymer move up to fifth on The European Tour Order of Merit.
It also saw the talented young man move into the top 35 on the Official World Golf Ranking and also take the record as the youngest German winner in European Tour history, his victory coming at age 23 years and 24 days, 14 days younger than Bernhard Langer was when he won the 1980 Dunlop Masters.
Courtesy of The Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship / Getty Images