Martin Kaymer, the European Tour's leading money-winner this season, began training again on Monday in the hope that he could be fit to return late next month.

The 24-year-old German needed surgery after breaking toes in a go-karting accident in America three weeks ago.

Kaymer is now back in his home country and has as his target the Castello Masters in Spain on October 22-25.

He has so far stayed at the top of the "Race to Dubai" money list during his lay-off - and will for at least two more weeks.

The Austrian Open starting on Thursday features none of his main rivals for the Order of Merit title and next week sees the Vivendi Trophy match in Paris between a Britain and Ireland side led by Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn's Continental Europe.

Second-placed Paul Casey has been out of action even longer than Kaymer because of a rib muscle injury and it is not clear when his return will be.

Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Ross Fisher - third, fourth and sixth respectively - will all have the chance to go past Kaymer at the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland on October 1-4.