Champion has sympathy for loser Johnson
MARTIN KAYMER offered words of consolation to Dustin Johnson after sealing his maiden Major title at the US PGA Championship.
Johnson looked set to have earned himself a place in the play-off with Kaymer and fellow American Bubba Watson after the trio finished on 11-under-par at Whistling Straits.
But Johnson was then controversially penalised two shots after grounding his club in what officials deemed to be a bunker at the 18th.
German Kaymer went on to take the title after beating Watson over the three extra holes, but was full of sympathy for the distraught Johnson.
“Obviously he didn’t know he was not allowed to ground the club because he did not think it was a bunker,” he said. “Both Bubba and I said that it was very sad to see because he played great golf and deserved to be in the play-off.”
At the same time, Kaymer couldn’t hide his delight at becoming only the second German to win a Major title after Bernhard Langer.
“It was an amazing feeling on 18 with two putts to win. I just won my first Major and I am just on Tour for four years. I have goosebumps.”