PINEHURST, United States: Germany’s Martin Kaymer completed an overwhelming wire-to-wire US Open victory yesterday to capture his second major golf title, grinding out a one-under par 69 to win by eight strokes at Pinehurst.
Former world number one Kaymer, whose first major title came at the 2010 PGA Championship, finished 72 holes on nine-under 271, the second-lowest total in US Open history after Rory McIlroy’s 268 in 2011.
“It was probably the toughest day that I played golf,” Kaymer said of his final-round effort. “I stayed aggressive and I played very brave. So I’m very proud of that.
“I’m very happy. It’s a very nice and very satisfying feeling.”
Kaymer displayed poise under pressure while calmly making long clutch putts on tricky turtle-backed greens on his way to a top prize of $1.62 million.
He followed a US Open record-low start of back-to-back 65s with a 72 to lead by five entering the last round and then maintained his edge to the end, matching McIlroy’s 2011 win margin as the fourth biggest in US Open history.
“I didn’t make many mistakes,” Kaymer said. “I played solid the first two days and that gave me a cushion for the weekend. To play the weekend one-over at Pinehurst, that made me very happy.”
Americans Rickie Fowler and Erik Compton shared second on 279 after each fired a final-round 72, but no one came within four strokes of Kaymer at any point in the final round.
“No one was catching Kaymer this week,” Compton said.
“We all were playing for second.”
The victory culminated a comeback for Kaymer, who struggled after his major triumph and went almost three years without a PGA win until taking last month’s Players Championship. Kaymer became only the seventh player to win after leading every round, joining a select champions’ list that includes Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Walter Hagen, Ben Hogan, James Barnes and Tony Jacklin.
“It’s a lot (of pressure leading all the way), especially if you play on a different continent,” Kaymer said. “It was a very nice week, very nice day.” AFP
