Kaymer looks to win second straight KLM Open, McIlroy hopes to deny

Martin Kaymer starts his bid to go 'double Dutch' on Thursday knowing there is a big difference to this time last year.

First of all, the 26-year-old German has Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy to contend with at the European Tour’s KLM Open -- and they, like him, do not want to let another victory chance slip away after coming close in Switzerland last week.

Secondly, Kaymer's four-stroke victory last September came in his first appearance after becoming a major champion and with his confidence at an all-time high. But he returns to Hilversumsche Golf Club now having gone more than seven months without a win.

That looked set to end as the world No. 3 stood over a two-foot birdie putt on Sunday. Hole it and he would have been two ahead with four to play, but he missed it and ended up losing by four to Thomas Bjorn.

"It definitely feels like I will win again in the next couple of weeks," Kaymer said. "I'm hitting the ball very well. I like the golf course and I can drive there from home -- it's only two hours away and it's nice to have your own car."

McIlroy has something he likes having around him, too. His Twitter site has a picture he took on the flight over of the U.S. Open trophy in its own seat, complete with safety belt on.

"It has to go everywhere with me these days," the Northern Irishman tweeted.

He came in third in the Omega European Masters on Sunday after leading early in the final round, but was encouraged by the fact that he had no problems with the right arm he injured against a tree root at the PGA Championship last month.

"I'll probably still get a little bit of physio this week just to make sure," he said. "I've got a long stretch coming up and it was nice to start it on a positive note like that."

McIlroy moved back up from sixth in the world to fourth as a result, and he admits he has Kaymer, No. 2 Westwood and No. 1 Luke Donald in his sights.

"I'm not desperate, but it's definitely a goal that I've set for myself and I feel as if it's very attainable," he said. "It might not be this year, but definitely into next year. I can give myself a very good platform if I end the season well.

"Luke's got a little bit of a lead at the minute and it would be nice to get closer to him,” he added. "But at the end of the day winning golf tournaments takes care of that, so I want to just concentrate on trying to play well and give myself chances to win every week that I play."

Westwood also had a share of the top spot for a while on Sunday, but then fell back to sixth. And with Donald finishing tied for third in the Deutsche Bank Championship on the PGA Tour, the gap between them at the top widened a bit more.

Back in action this week after injury layoffs are France's Thomas Levet and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts.

Levet fractured his shin and needed surgery after jumping in the lake celebrating his French Open victory at the start of July. Two weeks later, just before the British Open, China Open champion Colsaerts was in a scooter crash and hurt his elbow. He plays with Ryder Cup Captain Jose Maria Olazabal on his return, while Levet is paired with Kaymer.