Greg Chalmers is quietly confident he can pull off an upset victory over world No.4 Martin Kaymer in the opening round of the WGC Match Play Championship.
Australian Open and PGA champion Chalmers is ranked 61st in the elite 64-man field gathered in Tucson, Arizona this week and US bookmakers don’t expect him to trouble Germany’s former world No.1 let only go all the way to the STG1.4 million ($A2.08 million) winner’s prize.
But that’s a situation Chalmers relishes as he also sets his sights on a spot in the Masters field at Augusta National.
“It’s an all-win situation for me really,” Chalmers said.
“Whatever match I play in any stage of the competition I’ll be considered the underdog because of my ranking.
“But it’s been shown time and time again that upsets can happen.
“Kaymer is obviously a class player but it’s match play and it’s just 18 holes and anything can happen.”
With his world ranking at 63, Chalmers is close to gaining only his second start at the Masters – he missed the cut in 2001 – as the top 50 just before the tournament in April are assured entry.
With big world ranking points on the line at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club it might take just a few good rounds of match play to make a giant leap.
“I have this event and the WGC at Doral in a few weeks to really take advantage of as they represent great opportunities,” said Chalmers.
Kaymer admits he doesn’t know much about Chalmers but he’s astute enough to seek some insight from another Australian, Geoff Ogilvy.
“I had dinner with Geoff and he said Greg is very good in the short game, so you should be careful, never give up on anything, or think, okay, that’s my hole,” Kaymer said.
“You shouldn’t do that in match play anyways but especially with him, that’s what I heard.
“I don’t know Greg but I watched him winning a couple of times last year when he won back to back in Australia.
“I know he’s left-handed, he’s a good putter and that’s pretty much it.”
Chalmers’ coach Col Swatton can smell an upset.
“Obviously Greg is the number one putter on tour and combine that with his improvement in his long game, especially his driving, and there is nothing to suggest he can’t do it,” said Swatton, who also coaches and caddies for Jason Day.
“The course does tend to favour the longer hitters in places and Kaymer’s no slouch in that regard but Luke Donald won it all last year and he averages about the same as Greg off the tee so it’s not beyond him by any means.
“He only has to get through two or three rounds and he is really getting into big world rankings points zone – that’s only two or three good days and we know he has that in him.
