By Britta Koerber, dpa

Martin Kaymer considers the Open Championship to be the most important major of the year but he is also heading to the Rio Olympics, unlike many of his peers.

Troon, Scotland (dpa) – Germany’s Martin Kaymer is happy with his game before the start of the Open Championship Thursday and the former world number one is hoping to make an impact on what he considers the «most important major.»

The 31-year-old Kaymer already has two major titles to his name in the form of the 2010 PGA Championship and 2014 US Open and would dearly love a third from the links of Royal Troon.

«For me as a European this is the most important major,» he told dpa.
«The tradition is very impressive. At the start of my career I always imagined winning my first major title here.»

Kaymer’s record at the majors has been rather average after triumphing in 2014 when he made a brutal Pinehurst look like a pitch-and-putt en route to an eight-shot victory. His best finish since was tied-12th at the 2015 Open and PGA.

«I am very happy with my long game,» he said of his current form.
«The focus in the build-up has been on putting.»

The less than stellar run since Pinehurst should not rule him out of contention this weekend – between his maiden major and the second there was a similarly dry spell which included four missed cuts and a peak of tied-12th.

Like all courses on the Open rota, Troon is on the coast and the severity of the test over the next four days depends a lot on the weather conditions. Should the win pick up and the rain fall – always likely in Scotland, even in summer – the challenge on the back nine will be tough.

«The first nine holes play a little easier, they are shorter and the wind comes from the right at your back,» Kaymer explained. «There’s always a breeze at links courses and it’s good to play. It’s fiercer if the rain comes.»

Whatever happens at Troon, Kaymer will head to Baltusrol for the PGA Championship, the final major of the year at the end of the month, and unlike several leading players then pack his bags for Rio de Janeiro.

Golf has returned to the August 5-21 Olympic programme after a gap of
112 years but fear of the Zika virus and apathy to a non-traditional event has decimated the men’s field – Jordan Spieth, Jason Day and Rory McIlroy are among those sitting out.

«It’s sad for the people who have worked so hard for golf to become an Olympic sport,» Kaymer said. «(But) I understand the arguments.
We’re a luxury sport, we have action every week.»