2014 US Open: Kaymer goes wire-to-wire to win by eight shots

Martin Kaymer picked up his second major golf championship in emphatic fashion at Pinehurst #2.

The game of golf doesn’t necessarily lend itself towards big blow-out victory’s – especially when it comes to major championships. At a testing US Open course like Pinehurst #2, a golfer claiming a large victory wasn’t to be expected but Germany’s Martin Kaymer had other ideas.

Kaymer finished with a four round tournament total of 9-under par, eight shots clear of his nearest rivals – Erik Compton and Rickie Fowler back at 1-under par.

The victory means Kaymer becomes a multiple major winner adding to his victory at the 2010 US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. He also matches Germany’s only other major winner and his mentor, Bernard Langer with two major victories.

After Kaymer’s opening 65’s, it was felt that it was his tournament to lose and his composure was incredible. Kaymer barely missed a fairway all week and only made one or two bad mistakes – on a golf course like the one Pinehurst #2 was set up, it was superb golf.

No one truly challenged Kaymer. Two-time heart transplant patient Erik Compton was the feel good story of the week. His second place finish was his career best finish and earned a spot in next year’s Masters and US Open tournaments. Rickie Fowler also tied for second place eight shots behind Kaymer at 1-under par.

The last person to win a major golf championship in such emphatic fashion was Rory McIlroy when he won the 2012 US PGA Championship by eight strokes at Kiawah Island. He also won the 2011 US Open by the same number of strokes but Tiger Woods holds the record margin for victory at a major – a 15 strokes win at the 2000 Masters.

It wasn’t a great week for the Australians but after all players had finished, two of them finished inside the top-10. Just three of the 11 starters made the cut and Jason Day managed to grab a share of 4th place, 10-strokes behind Kaymer. Adam Scott finished at 2-over par for the event and in a tie for ninth place.

Aaron Baddeley was the third Australian to make the weekend play and finished in a tie for 23rd place.