PREVIEW: Kaymer hoping for a repeat - toothless Tiger looking for 15

By Brendon Hanley and Rainer Fuelscher Aug 10, 2011, 12:11 GMT

Atlanta, Georgia/Frankfurt - A toothless Tiger Woods has long lost his aura of invincibility and unlike Germany's Martin Kaymer seems to be fighting to sustain his career.

The 26-year-old Kaymer goes into the PGA Championship that are being held in Johns Creek in Atlanta from Thursday to Sunday as the defending champion and has - since winning his first major last year - maintained his position in the world's golfing elite.

'You invest a huge amount of work in your golf and make huge sacrifices over years. But when you win a major, it is all worthwhile. That is the reason why I will travel to Atlanta with so much confidence.

'The victory in 2010 not only changed my life, it also changed the life of my family,' he said, adding that all the changes were positive.

After sensationally winning in Whistling Straits last year, Kaymer even spent eight weeks at the top of the world rankings. 'The confidence that you achieve when you win a major is a world-class feeling. There is nothing like it.'

Kaymer finished a disappointing 29th place - 16 shots behind winner Adam Scott at the WGC-Invitational on the weekend, but is now looking forward to the PGA.

'A lot happened quite unexpected for me last year. I became the top ranked European, then won a major, played and won the Ryder Cup. Those are th kind of goals one has for a whole career and I had already achieved them by the time I was 25.

Kaymer has had an up-and-down season, but is looking forward to playing at Johns Creek. 'The course is totally different to what it was in 2010.

'It is long with high roughs. You have to drive the ball well and the quality of your shots is really important. I want to win.'

That is something that the former number one Woods is also dreaming of. The American, who has fallen to 30th in the world, has not enjoyed that feeling for 22 months.

A mysterious car crash shortly after winning his last of 71 PGA tournaments in Australia, the 14-time major winner's career has nose-dived as he now embarks on his 14th attempt to win another major.

But Woods is far from being one of the favourites.

Amongst the favourites are the two top ranked players Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, as well as Scott who won the WGC. Woods showed himself to be rather a toothless Tiger at the WGC, where he finished just 37th.

Stopped by scandals, knee operations and achilles heel problems, Woods is miles away from the form that once saw him virtually invincible.