Germany's Martin Kaymer admits he is much happier playing on 'home' European soil as he carded his second best round of the year to earn a share of second place in The Open at Royal Troon.
The 31-year-old has not had a top-10 finish in the United States, where he has won his two majors, since the Deutsche Bank Championship in September 2014.
He lost his full PGA Tour card for this season (he is playing in the majors, WGC events and some tournaments on sponsors exemptions) and his results in America have been poor with his best finish in a strokeplay event this year the joint 37th he managed at last month's US Open.
By contrast he has had four top-10s in his last six starts on the European Tour and an opening bogey-free 66 left him just three behind leader Phil Mickelson at The Open.
"As a European I love playing in Europe because every week is very different and every course that we play I enjoy the different cultures," he said.
"You can drive to some tournaments. For me, that is just the way I have to schedule my next few years a little more.
"It took me 10 years to figure it out and understand where the best place for me to play my best golf is.
"Obviously I had huge success in America and I love playing in America but not all year long because I'm from Europe and that's why I enjoy playing in Europe a lot."
Kaymer said there were times earlier this season when he found himself trying to prove things to himself as he believes results were not reflecting his performances, something he noticed was not being recognised by the media.
"In March, April, May I thought I was playing really well but I couldn't get good scores on the scorecard," he added.
"Then when you get asked about it you obviously can tell the truth but you can feel the reporter or whoever doesn't really believe it because he sees the scores.
"So you just want to prove it to yourself that you actually do play better golf and the result shows.
"I think that turned around a little bit pretty much since I came back to Europe and played the Irish Open (and finished fifth in May)."
Source: PA
