Martin Kaymer was today named the first German winner of the European Tour's Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award.
The 22-year-old from Dusseldorf, having twice failed to come through the qualifying school, graduated from the Challenge Tour at the end of 2006 and earned €750,000 to finish 41st on the money list.
Three weeks ago Kaymer equalled the lowest round of the season with a 12-under-par 60 in the Portugal Masters and only last Saturday shot the lowest round of the week with a five-under-par 66 in the Volvo Masters at Valderrama.
His best finish was runner-up to Finn Mikko Ilonen in the Scandinavian Masters. A birdie on the last would have given him the title, but he double-bogeyed.
Rory McIlroy was ineligible for the award. Next year will be the Co Down teenager's first full season in the paid ranks, but because he turned professional in September and played four Tour events he was eligible for the rookie prize.
The 18-year-old from Holywood finished third in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews on his second start and fourth in the Madrid Open a week later to secure his Tour card without going to the qualifying school.
Kaymer succeeds Scotland's Marc Warren as the winner of the award, given by a panel comprising the European Tour, the Royal and Ancient Club and the Association of Golf Writers, and he joins a list of recipients including some of the great names of European golf.
Tony Jacklin won in 1963, Peter Oosterhuis in 1969, Sam Torrance in 1972, Nick Faldo in 1977, Sandy Lyle 12 months later, Jose Maria Olazabal in 1986, Colin Montgomerie in 1988 and Sergio Garcia in 1999. Peter Lawrie remains the only Irish winner following his success in 2003.
Kaymer's main rivals were Spain's Alvaro Quiros, who won the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa before missing a substantial part of the 2007 season due to injury, and Sweden's Alexander Noren.
"To be the first winner from my country is a very special honour," Kaymer said. "When I look at the list of previous winners that makes it even more spectacular. There were a lot of good players on tour who could have won and I think it was a battle between us all through the year.
"At the beginning of the season I didn't really feel comfortable on the European Tour because I didn't know anyone and there were just a few Germans whom I played with in practice.
"But now I know a lot of people. I've played with different players every week and it is a lot of fun. Growing up I admired Bernhard Langer and Ernie Els, they were my role models and it was a special honour for me to play with Ernie in Munich. That was really cool."
