Martin Kaymer heading home to Germany for long-awaited celebration

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer is looking forward to the holidays, and for good reason. The German will be home for Christmas for the first time since 2006.

 

Kaymer also has a place in Arizona, and for the last seven years, he felt the need to stay in the desert to make sure he was prepared for a new season. After winning a second major and the Players Championship, it's time to celebrate.

 

''The last seven years I've been in Phoenix on my own. I don't want to do that again,'' Kaymer said. ''I always went in the beginning of December and stayed four or five weeks. It was difficult to have Christmas, your birthday (Dec. 28) and New Year's Eve in a different country, with not many friends. You know what's happening at home. But for me, it always was important to prepare for tournaments. I wanted success. Now, I have success.

 

''But that time of the year, you should enjoy it more, especially when you've had a year like that.''

 

There are significant differences between Christmas in Arizona and Christmas in Germany.

 

''It's so weird when they put lights on the cactus,'' Kaymer said. ''It's not cold. I like that hot wine we drink in the Christmas market in Germany. In Phoenix, we drink ice-cold water. It doesn't feel like Christmas. I didn't really have Christmas the last seven years, and I do miss it. And I really want to go home this year.''