Martin Kaymer
A German golfer whose ice-cool demeanor under pressure delivered two major championships and briefly made him the best in the world.
Born 1984 (age 42)·German professional golfer·Birthday: December 28·Millennials
Biography
Martin Kaymer announced himself to the golf world not with flamboyance, but with a steely, methodical precision. The German's swing, a model of efficiency, carried him to rapid success, including a PGA Championship victory in 2010 where he held off a charging Bubba Watson. His career zenith came in 2014, a year defined by one of the most dramatic finishes in major history. At the U.S. Open on Pinehurst's punishing No. 2 course, Kaymer led wire-to-wire, his eight-stroke victory a masterclass in control that left the field shattered. That same year, his putt on the 18th at Gleneagles secured the Ryder Cup for Europe, sealing his legacy as a clutch team performer. While his form later fluctuated as he undertook a swing overhaul, his peak moments remain etched in golf lore as examples of near-flawless execution on the grandest stages.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Martin was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Martin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Martin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2010 PGA Championship in a playoff at Whistling Straits.
- Secured an eight-stroke victory at the 2014 U.S. Open, dominating the field at Pinehurst No. 2.
- Achieved the world number one ranking in men's golf for eight weeks in 2011.
- Made the putt that clinched the 2014 Ryder Cup for Team Europe at Gleneagles.
Did You Know?
He learned to play golf by hitting balls in a field near his childhood home, as his local course did not have a driving range.
Kaymer is an avid fan of the football club Borussia Mönchengladbach.
He once played a practice round at the Masters with his idol, Bernhard Langer.
“I don't want to be remembered as a guy who just won two majors. I want to be remembered as a guy who tried to change things.”
