Martin Kaymer of Germany claimed his second major championship by closing with a methodical 1-under-par 69 to win the 114th U.S. Open by eight strokes over Erik Compton and Rickie Fowler at historic Pinehurst No. 2 in Pinehurst, N.C.
The 29-year-old old Kaymer, who also captured the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, matched the major title total of his idol, two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer, the greatest German golfer in history.
“I hope Bernhard is proud of me and that all of Germany is proud of me,” said Kaymer, who also won the Players Championship last month and made the winning putt for the Europeans in the Ryder Cup two years ago. “It’s difficult playing on a different continent, but I have to say the fans here at Pinehurst were very fair.
“I didn’t make many mistakes. I played very solid (65-65) the first two days and built a nice cushion. Playing the last two rounds at Pinehurst in 1-over-par also was very solid. Now we almost have a German Grand Slam. We’re only missing the British Open.”
Compton, the two-time heart transplant recipient, closed with a 72 to post the best finish of his career on the PGA Tour, and Fowler also had a 72 to record his best result in a major championship.
Jason Day of Australia closed with a 68 to record his seventh top-10 finish in the Grand Slam events since 2010, a tie for fourth with 2011 PGA champion Keegan Bradley (67), Henrik Stenson of Sweden (73), Brooks Koepka (71) and Dustin Johnson (73), who seemed headed for second until he made three straight bogeys through No. 17.
Adam Scott, playing his first major as the No. 1 player in the World Golf Rankings, finished with a 69 and tied for ninth with FedEx Cup points leader Jimmy Walker, who also had a 69, and Brandt Snedeker, who came in at 73.
Defending champion Justin Rose of England posted a 72 and finished in a tie for 12th.
Phil Mickelson, taking his first shot at winning the modern Career Grand Slam, did not break 70 in any of his four rounds, closing with a 72 that left him in a tie for 28th. He will get his next chance in 2015 at Chambers Bay, near Seattle.
