BMW Brand Ambassador delivers an exciting “Can you beat me?” match in Whistling Straits with three thrilled amateurs.

Whistling Straits. A year ago golfing star Martin Kaymer celebrated the most significant success of his career to date. On 15 August 2010 he became the first German player to win the US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin. Exactly a year to the day later, the BMW Brand Ambassador for the first time returned to the scene of his triumph in order to take on three excited amateurs in the “Can you beat me?” contest.

The tees and flags on the legendary Straits Course were positioned identically to a year ago, when Kaymer played a dramatic final round to win a play-off against Bubba Watson (USA). This time, though, his opponents were called George Mixides (Great Britain, Handicap: 6.3), John Pappas (USA, 12.2) and Christian Fuchs (Germany, 5.1). They had been invited by BMW to the exclusive three-day experience in the US Mid-West. In total, well over 5,500 players had applied to challenge Kaymer.

After a communal dinner the previous evening, Kaymer and the trio of hobby golfers headed for their round in glorious sunshine. They played to the Best Ball format, whereby Kaymer singularly took on the three amateurs, who received a stroke advantage on each of the six most difficult holes. For five hours both sides duelled in an intense yet friendly atmosphere before Mixides secured a crucial victory for the amateurs with a fantastic birdie on the 18th hole. Kaymer completed the Par 72 course in 2 under par – an identical score to his final round in 2010.

“It was a wonderful experience to take on three very good golfers, and I had a lot of fun,” said Kaymer afterwards. “For me it was obviously an emotional day. Whistling Straits is a very special place for me, and not only because I won here, but also because it is one of the nicest courses I have ever played.”

The three amateurs could but agree. The previous day they had completed 18 holes at the Dubsdread Course in Cog Hill, scene of the BMW Championship. “To be able to play two such famous championship courses is an absolute pleasure,” said Fuchs.

“From the moment we landed at the airport in Chicago it was a top class experience,” added Mixides. The trio lodged in the BMW Championship players’ hotel, and met Kaymer for cocktails and dinner in the exquisite American Club in Whistling Straits. “It is unbelievable how well BMW hosted us,” Mixides said.

The hobby golfers were united in their belief that “Can you beat me?” enabled them to fulfil a dream. “It is fascinating to have been in a position to play against somebody of the calibre of Martin Kaymer,” said Pappas. “His precision, his eye for the ball and his course management were simply unbelievable.”  

BMW Brand Ambassador delivers an exciting “Can you beat me?” match in Whistling Straits with three thrilled amateurs.