Peerless Kaymer cruises to US Open victory
GERMANY’S Martin Kaymer completed one of the great Major tournament performances last night to claim the US Open at Pinehurst by eight shots.
The 29-year-old, who led by five shots overnight, carded a final round of 69 to finish nine under par and land his second career Major, following his breakthrough success at the 2010 USPGA Championship.
American Rickie Fowler was tied for second with compatriot Erik Compton, while last year’s double money list winner, Henrik Stenson of Sweden, was among five players tied for fourth on one over par.
Defending champion Justin Rose finished the best of the English contingent, tied for 12th on three over par, after closing his week with a 72, with Ian Poulter one shot further adrift.
Former world No1 Rory McIlroy ended six over par, one stroke better off than six-time runner-up Phil Mickelson and rising French star Victor Dubuisson.
Kaymer’s victory was not quite as emphatic as Tiger Woods’s 15-stroke win at Pebble Beach in 2000, nor was his total as low as McIlroy’s 16 under at Congressional in 2011, yet it was remarkable all the same. When successive birdies at the 13th and 14th holes took Kaymer to 10 under and extended his lead to eight strokes, his second Major title was as good as won.
The triumph completes his return as one of the game’s forces, having endured a slump following the USPGA win almost four years ago. Kaymer had not finished in the top 10 of a Major tournament since then until yesterday, and missed the cut in four of those 13 outings. However he announced his resurgence by scooping the Players Championship, known as the Fifth Major, last month – his first title on the European or PGA Tours since 2011 – and now appears to be back among the world’s best.
FINAL LEADERBOARD
-9 Martin Kaymer (Ger)
-1 Rickie Fowler (US), Erik Compton (US)
+1 Keegan Bradley (US), Jason Day (Aus), Brooks Koepka (US), Dustin Johnson (US), Henrik Stenson (Swe)
+2 Adam Scott (Aus), Jimmy Walker (US), Brandt Snedeker (US)
+3 Jim Furyk (US), Marcel Siem (Ger), Justin Rose (Eng), Kevin Na (US), Matt Kuchar (US)