Throughout his career, Martin Kaymer has displayed a calm demeanor, staying even-keeled amid the highs and lows of his time in pro golf. Sometimes, though, a golfer needs a little negativity to find the motivation to play their best.
And that’s exactly what happened to Kaymer at this week’s 2026 PGA Championship. Tuesday night at Aronimink, Kaymer suffered a slight at the hands of an anonymous PGA official. He then used that diss as motivation to charge into a tie for the 18-hole lead.
There’s a reason Kaymer is in the field this week, and it’s the same reason he attended the PGA Champions Dinner on Tuesday. Kaymer won the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, topping Bubba Watson in a playoff for his first major title.
Kaymer added a second major title at the 2014 U.S. Open and briefly stood atop the Official World Golf Ranking at No. 1.
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But in recent years, injuries and a move to LIV Golf have seen Kaymer struggle on the course and fade from the spotlight.
That is, until Thursday. Kaymer came out firing in the first round at Aronimink. Starting on the back nine, he quickly birdied 11 and 12 to move to two under. He’d make two more birdies against one bogey over the rest of his round to finish with a three-under 67.
That score was as good as anyone did on Thursday, leaving Kaymer in a seven-way tie for the lead. It was also by far the best Kaymer has performed in a major in many years. Last season, the PGA Championship was the only major he qualified for, and he missed the cut. Interestingly, Kaymer chose to skip the 2023 PGA Championship because it was scheduled in between two LIV events.
“I’ve been playing well the last two, three events out on LIV. I didn’t have good result, but I was playing well. And I knew I find more consistency. I really enjoy playing this golf course. Monday, Tuesday, I had so much fun on the golf course. I think it really suits my eye. It’s a very fair test. Great for the PGA Championship,” Kaymer said after his round.
It turns out Kaymer’s stellar play was inspired, at least in part, by the slight he suffered at the Champions Dinner.
In his post-round press conference Thursday evening, Kaymer was asked how his game felt coming into this week’s PGA Championship. He then shared what he called a “funny story” from the Champions Dinner, though the incident seemed to bother the two-time major champ more than he let on.
On Tuesday night, while past champions were dining on steak and chicken parm with defending champion Scottie Scheffler, an unnamed figure from the PGA of America was sitting next to Kaymer. That official had the audacity to ask Kaymer if he was still playing golf professionally.
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“On Tuesday evening we had the Champions Dinner, and there was a gentleman sitting next to me from the PGA of America, and he asked me if I would be, if I still play. And I said, ‘What do you mean?’ He said, ‘Well, are you playing this week?'” Kaymer shared.
Miffed by the question, Kaymer offered up an epic retort.
“And I said, ‘Yeah, that’s why I’m here. I’m not flying from Europe to here to have a New York strip with you guys, you know, of course I’m playing,'” Kaymer said on Thursday.
He then admitted the offhand diss directly “motivated” him to perform his best this week.
“That really motivated me. So it was a good start to the week. Again, I really enjoy Aronimink Golf Course, it’s fun to play and I look forward to hopefully have another three good days,” Kaymer said.
With 14 players within one shot of the lead heading into Friday’s second round, Kaymer has his work cut out for him even with his hot start.
The post ‘Really motivated me’: LIV major champ’s PGA Dinner diss sparks charge into lead appeared first on Golf.
