SAINT QUENTIN, France, July 2 (Reuters) - Martin Kaymer has a sizeable task on his hands but the world number four is confident he can clinch his second French Open title in three years on Sunday.
The German fired a four-under 67 in Saturday’s third round to
move to six-under 207 and is three shots behind joint leaders Mark Foster and James Morrison of Britain and two off Scotland’s Richie Ramsay.
With a tricky swing change showing signs of paying dividends, however, Kaymer is backing himself to win on the National course where in 2009 he beat current world number two Lee Westwood in a playoff.
“My swing feels better and I’m very excited about tomorrow,” Kaymer told reporters after a round boosted by an eagle on 14 that came from a stunning approach to just eight feet.
Kaymer’s swing change to a straighter plane came through a yearning to play better in the U.S. Masters at Augusta, he said.
“The Masters gave me the push to do it. I thought: ‘You’re one of the best players in the world and you’re not able to hit the right golf shots at Augusta’.”
Kaymer said he had also taken advice from his mental coach Fanny Sunesson, six-times major winner Nick Faldo’s former caddie. Faldo completely changed his swing to win majors and it paid off when he clinched his first—the 1987 British Open.
“I talked to Fanny and she said if you see room for improvement it would not be a good idea to just leave it, you’ll always think about it. I’m sure I’ll be more than happy I did that change” added Kaymer.
TWO CALAMITIES
The German is determined to regain the world number one spot from Briton Luke Donald and if he stays in the top eight on Sunday he will move back to world number three and relegate U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy to fourth.
Morrison, the overnight leader, had two calamities to prevent him taking a clear lead, double-bogeying the second and 17th holes in a round of 72.
Foster, with a third 68, is again looking for his second title. He also led last week’s BMW International going into the final round but had to settle for a share of third place.
A closing birdie in Munich, though, has enabled him to recover quickly from the disappointment of seeing another win slip through his fingers.
“My putt on the 18th last week was the difference between eighth and third and that was a huge pick-me-up,” Foster told Reuters. “I felt really positive coming here.”
Frenchman Thomas Levet shares fourth place with Kaymer.
Former U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell’s bid to earn a British Open start from a top five finish disintegrated with a 78 that left him 13 shots off the pace as his run of good scoring ended.
The German fired a four-under 67 in Saturday’s third round to
move to six-under 207 and is three shots behind joint leaders Mark Foster and James Morrison of Britain and two off Scotland’s Richie Ramsay.
With a tricky swing change showing signs of paying dividends, however, Kaymer is backing himself to win on the National course where in 2009 he beat current world number two Lee Westwood in a playoff.
“My swing feels better and I’m very excited about tomorrow,” Kaymer told reporters after a round boosted by an eagle on 14 that came from a stunning approach to just eight feet.
Kaymer’s swing change to a straighter plane came through a yearning to play better in the U.S. Masters at Augusta, he said.
“The Masters gave me the push to do it. I thought: ‘You’re one of the best players in the world and you’re not able to hit the right golf shots at Augusta’.”
Kaymer said he had also taken advice from his mental coach Fanny Sunesson, six-times major winner Nick Faldo’s former caddie. Faldo completely changed his swing to win majors and it paid off when he clinched his first—the 1987 British Open.
“I talked to Fanny and she said if you see room for improvement it would not be a good idea to just leave it, you’ll always think about it. I’m sure I’ll be more than happy I did that change” added Kaymer.
TWO CALAMITIES
The German is determined to regain the world number one spot from Briton Luke Donald and if he stays in the top eight on Sunday he will move back to world number three and relegate U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy to fourth.
Morrison, the overnight leader, had two calamities to prevent him taking a clear lead, double-bogeying the second and 17th holes in a round of 72.
Foster, with a third 68, is again looking for his second title. He also led last week’s BMW International going into the final round but had to settle for a share of third place.
A closing birdie in Munich, though, has enabled him to recover quickly from the disappointment of seeing another win slip through his fingers.
“My putt on the 18th last week was the difference between eighth and third and that was a huge pick-me-up,” Foster told Reuters. “I felt really positive coming here.”
Frenchman Thomas Levet shares fourth place with Kaymer.
Former U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell’s bid to earn a British Open start from a top five finish disintegrated with a 78 that left him 13 shots off the pace as his run of good scoring ended.
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