Plum draw with Els for German Kaymer

By Norman Dabell

SOUTHPORT (Reuters) - Europe's 2007 rookie of the year Martin Kaymer is delighted to be making his British Open debut on Thursday alongside his role model Ernie Els.

The 23-year-old German earned his plum draw with Els, the South African world number five and 2002 British Open champion, after claiming two European Tour titles this season.

When Kaymer won the second of those titles, last month's BMW International Open in Munich, he said his compatriot Bernhard Langer had been his inspiration but that Els was his role model.

"It's great playing with Ernie for my first (British) Open and I'm really looking forward to it," Kaymer told Reuters on Wednesday.

"I played with him in Dubai this year and last year in Munich and I just love his style and his relaxed way of playing.

"Our swing thoughts are very similar and my swing is very similar to his, so I'm going to have that right in front of me. It makes my playing of my first Open that little bit easier.

"Ernie's always top five in the world and he's such a nice person as well."

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