U.S. Open: Kaymer completes wire-to-wire victory, wins by eight strokes

PINEHURST, NC – Martin Kaymer shot under par for the third time in four days to run away with the U.S. Open golf championship Sunday at Pinehurst Country Club.

The 29-year-old became the first German to win the U.S. Open title by shooting 1-under-par 69 in the final round to finish 9-under for the tournament. His closest competitors were Americans Erik Compton and Rickie Fowler who both shot 2-over-par 72 to finish at 1-under for the tournament.

Kaymer won his second major, including the 2010 PGA Championship, by a rout rivaled only by Tiger Woods’ 15-stroke win at Pebble Beach in 2000 and Rory McIlroy’s 8-shot victory at Congressional in 2011. He became the fourth European to win the U.S. championship in the past five years. He was so dominant that, after setting an Open record by reaching 10-under-par at the halfway point on Friday, nobody got closer than four shots over the final 48 holes.

Listen to tournament audio from Pinehurst following Sunday’s final round.

(A two-time heart transplant recipient, Erik Compton said it was amazing to be here)

[podcast id='1']

(“You can’t ever write yourself off,” added Compton. “You just can’t give up.”)

[podcast id='2']

(Compton finished 1-under-par to finish in 2nd place, a spot he felt was really sweet)

[podcast id='3']

(Tied with Compton in second, Rickie Fowler thought it was nice to be comfortable in a major)

[podcast id='4']

(Martin Kaymer thought it means more to win a second major)

[podcast id='0']

(After recapturing his game, Kaymer’s surprise is not to play good golf, but to win such big tournaments)

[podcast id='5']