Kaymer vs. Siem: all Open bets off

Martin Kaymer likes to play practice rounds with compatriot Marcel Siem, just as long as they are not playing for money

The German trio of Martin Kaymer, Marcel Siem and Bernhard Langer played 18 holes of practice together today at St Andrews, but in contrast to past practice rounds Kaymer and Siem have played together, no bets were taken between the two.

“No, I won’t play Marcel for money any more,” Kaymer told Golf Monthly after their round. “We have played for money before but Marcel always wins, so I won’t do it now. Even though they are just friendly games we are both competitive and we both want to win, and it gets annoying to keep losing to him. I don’t want to take the fun out of our practice rounds so I told Marcel I won’t play for money. I told him earlier this year, and when he asked me today if I wanted a bet, I told him again.”

After their round Kaymer went for lunch while Siem headed for the putting green, where he offered Golf Monthly his side of the story.

“Martin won’t take a bet because he has never beaten me,” said Siem. “We have played six or seven times over the past couple of years and I won every time. But you know, he should play for money. At Pinehurst before the U.S. Open last year I took $250 dollars off him, and what happened? He won the U.S. Open! I told him this morning, if you lose to me again you might win The Open, but he wouldn’t bet.”

Siem, 35, is making his fourth appearance in the Open this week, as he attempts to improve on a finish tied for 27th here at St Andrews on his Open debut in 2010. Kaymer, 30, finished tied for seventh that week in 2010, before winning his first major title a month later in the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

Martin Kaymer and Marcel Siem are Mercedes-Benz golf brand ambassadors. Mercedes-Benz is Proud Patron and Official Car of The Open.