Kaymer leaves rivals in dust

RORY McILROY and his European Tour colleagues will be pleased Martin Kaymer has taken out U.S. Tour membership after the German began his new season with a resounding eight-stroke victory in the defence of his Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship title.

McIlroy and his friend Graeme McDowell were shaking their heads in disbelief after the new world number two demolished the field with a 24-under par victory tally.

Kaymer dropped just one stroke over the four days – an uncharacteristic shank at the third hole on day one – in eventually relegating final round rival McIlroy (69) into a distant second place at 16-under par.