GERMANY’S MARTIN KAYMER expressed his relief in qualifying automatically for Europe’s Ryder Cup team on Sunday.
Kaymer’s place in Jose Maria Olazabal’s side was confirmed following the close of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles won by Paul Lawrie.
The 27-year-old Kaymer elected to sit out this final qualifying event in Scotland and the German’s gamble paid off with Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts needing a top-two finish to unseat Kaymer who secured the 10th and final automatic qualifying place.
Colsaerts will now have to rely on a ‘wildcard’ pick after finishing in a share of 19th place at Gleneagles.
“I am very happy to be in the team and also a little relieved but overall it is a great feeling to be in Jose Maria’s Ryder Cup team,” said Kaymer.“I have been struggling with my game for the last few months but since the US PGA I have made a lot of progress with my coach, (Gunther Kessler) and had some really good sessions. I am starting to feel confident with what I am doing again.
“I also have a few weeks to get ready and I am plying the KLM Open and the BMW Italian Open so I will be able to play competitively before going to Chicago and that is important because that is the next step – to go out and play these tournaments and play well.”
Kaymer will now return to the team after making his debut in the victorious 2010 Celtic Manor winning side.
Colsaerts faces an anxious wait to hear if he has made the Ryder cut with Olazabal due to announce his two wildcards at 1100GMT on Monday.
“It’s been a very long summer and I’ve only had one week off in the last nine weeks,” said Colsaerts after shooting a final round 72 for a five under par tally.
“That’s just because I wanted it badly. It’s been a pretty long time with my head down so I’m quite relieved I’m having some days off now to chill off.
“It’s been more mentally demanding than physical but then if someone asked me to play 18 holes tomorrow, I would probably go play.“But mentally I am pretty much drained.”
On his chances of getting a wildcard pick he added: “I am nervously confident of getting a pick.”
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy heads the list of European Team qualifiers.
European Ryder Cup qutomatic qualifiers
1. Rory McIlroy (NIR), 2. Justin Rose (ENG), 3. Graeme McDowell (NIR), 4. Paul Lawrie (SCO), 5. Francesco Molinari (ITA), 6. Luke Donald (ENG), 7. Lee Westwood (ENG), 8. Sergio Garcia (ESP), 9. Peter Hanson (SWE), 10. Martin Kaymer (GER)
