Germany's former world number one golfer Martin Kaymer made sure he kept a close eye on the NBA basketball Finals, and especially the stellar performances of his compatriot Dirk Nowitzki, while preparing for this week's US Open.
A keen basketballer while at school, Kaymer was delighted to watch his role model Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks clinch their first NBA title with a 4-2 series victory over the Miami Heat on Monday.
Kaymer says the Mavericks' win is huge not only for Nowitzki, who won his first championship ring after 13 years in the league, but also for basketball in Germany as well.
Nowitzki, the most successful European of all time in the NBA, was named the Most Valuable Player of the finals after averaging 26 points per game.
The 32-year-old produced six 30-plus scoring games during the playoffs as Dallas ended three decades of frustration by capturing their first NBA championship.
