PGA Tour not a must for everyone

There was a time when Martin Kaymer couldn’t get to America fast enough.

First came the inspiration from Tiger Woods’ incomparable 2000 season, when he won three straight majors among his 10 titles around the world. It was enough for the 15-year-old German to start dreaming of the PGA Tour, a chance to compete against Woods and the rest of the best players, to show them that he could play.

Now that he’s a major champion, which comes with a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour, Kaymer no longer is in such a hurry.

And why should he be?

The World Golf Championships, such as last week’s Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone, used to offer a taste of the PGA Tour with enormous prize money, impeccable conditions and a chance to compete against the best in the world.

Kaymer now gets enough of that while based in Europe.

He can play 12 times on the PGA Tour, which includes four majors and three World Golf Championships. That leaves him five other events to play, which is ample.

Kaymer, who won the PGA Championship last year and already has nine wins at age 26, was at No. 1 in the world earlier this year. He has no immediate plans to join the PGA Tour.

“I can’t tell when it’s going to be,” he said. “At the moment, I like my position that I can play a little bit in Europe, a little bit in America.”