The days of the pot-bellied golfer are long gone.
Martin Kaymer was in fine form, on Monday, as he met the press at Augusta National as part of the build-up to the 2015 US Masters.
The former US Open champion gave his take on Tiger Woods, his own chances of winning and the fact that modern golfer’s are becoming increasingly athletic and muscular. One of Rory McIroy’s latest adverts shows him doing serious weights in the gym.
Asked how much tin he can lift, Kaymer began by flexing his muscles. He commented, ‘Obviously Rory is a strong boy. If you see pictures of him five years ago, you see him now, this is impressive.
‘He was… I don’t know if you’ve seen the picture that my caddie shared I think a week ago, I was quite chubby, too, when I was young. And Rory, he looked similar five years ago. Now he looks solid, good unit.
‘So I think you can see that his whole focus is on winning tournaments, seeing where is the limit physically and obviously whatever mental stuff he does, I don’t know. But the physical part is obviously very obvious.’
Naturally, the follow-up question was ‘Can you beat Rory McIlroy in an arm wrestle?‘
‘That’s a very important question,’ he responded. ‘I think after seeing those pictures, he’s a very strong boy. I don’t even… I don’t want to go there. I give him the win.’
Proper order Martin.
Tiger Woods, meanwhile, impressed many of the tour pros and fans in the galleries around the practice chipping area at Augusta National. The former world number one – now ranked 111th – hit about 70 practice shots and declared himself to be in good shape.
‘I felt like I had to get my game into a spot where I could compete to win a golf tournament,’ he proclaimed.
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