Martin Kaymer turned a dinner-table slight into a sizzling start at the PGA Championship, firing a co-leading 3-under 67 at Aronimink Golf Club on Thursday. The 41-year-old German was reportedly asked by a PGA of America official during Tuesday's champions dinner if he still played golf—a question that clearly struck a nerve.

"I'm not flying from Europe to here to have a New York strip with you guys. Of course I'm playing," Kaymer recalled responding, adding that the exchange "really motivated me."

And motivate it did. Kaymer's opening round was a trip down memory lane for the two-time major winner and former Players champion, who hasn't exactly been lighting up leaderboards in recent years. Since joining LIV Golf in June 2022, he's played just four majors, missing the cut in five of his last six PGA starts. His world ranking has plummeted to No. 1,160—a far cry from the eight weeks he spent atop the rankings in 2011.

The challenging Aronimink layout, with its thick rough and tricky greens, proved a great equalizer on a cool, gusty day. Kaymer shared the lead with a group that includes rising stars Aldrich Potgieter, Ryo Hisatsune, Stephan Jaeger, and Min Woo Lee—but none of them carry the same championship pedigree as the German.

"I've been struggling since 2021," Kaymer admitted. "I had a couple surgeries and other issues came with it. I could never really practice because I was always hurt. I always came into tournaments unprepared. To be honest, it really pissed me off."

That frustration seems to have found a productive outlet this week. On LIV this season, Kaymer's best finish in seven events was a T-25, and he's finished outside the top 50 or withdrawn three times in fields of just 57 players. But Thursday's round suggests the fire still burns—and sometimes, all it takes is a little motivation from an unexpected source.