Even though he was a rookie two years ago Kaymer, fresh off his first major victory and another win in Holland, was sent out first with Lee Westwood - he was that good.
They beat Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson and then halved with Jim Furyk and Rickie Fowler, while in the third session he had Ian Poulter as his partner and they defeated Mickelson and Fowler.
Johnson gained some revenge in the singles, but Kaymer had certainly done his bit in Europe's nail-biting win and nobody would have guessed then that he would struggle to make this year's side.
But then came his problems with Augusta.
"Every time I left I was very frustrated - not because I had just missed the cut, but the way I missed the cut. I had no idea how it feels to hit a draw.
"Obviously I know you have to hit it inside-outside with a shut clubface. I've read that many times, but I didn't know how it feels.
"I needed to learn. I thought I had a lot of years ahead of me and I don't want to live with that just hitting a fade my entire life."
