With an assassin's demeanour, Martin Kaymer coolly and calmly completed the job at the 114th US Open at Pinehurst No. 2 where, under clear skies and fulfilling a sense of the inevitability about the occasion, the German shot a final round 69 for 271, nine-under-par, to claim a hugely impressive wire-to-wire success.
In claiming a second Major of a career which has been dramatically resurrected this season – this win coming on back of his victory last month in the Players tournament – Kaymer's dominance saw him finish eight strokes clear of runner-ups Erik Compton and Rickie Fowler. The three were the only players to finish under par.
This championship bore none of the drama of Payne Stewart’s win here in 1999, nor the emotion of Michael Campbell’s win on the North Carolina sand hills, yet was all the more impressive for the manner in which Kaymer took a grip on the destination of the trophy and refused to even open the door a crack to shed any light of hope for those in pursuit.
For those in a vain chase to catch Kaymer, there was at least some consolation. For Compton, ranked 187th in the world beforehand, in guaranteeing his tour card for 2015 and earning exemptions for the upcoming British Open, US PGA and next year's US Masters. For Justin Rose, who relinquished his title to a Ryder Cup team-mate, there was the opportunity to replicate Stewart's fist pump on the 18th after a closing birdie.
For Phil Mickelson, who came here in a quest for a career Grand Slam, there was little solace to take with him before he moves on to Hoylake next month to defend his claret jug. A six-time runner-up, but no better than tied-28th on this occasion, Mickelson departed signing autographs and believing his time would still come in a US Open.
As Mickelson put it, “I believe in the next five years I’m going to have three or four really good chances (to win) and I do believe I will get it. I’m not upset or disappointed, I will have more chances.”
No, this championship was about Kaymer, who seemed as if he were playing a different course to everyone else in terms of scoring. From an opening first round of 65 that was followed by another 65 on Friday to claim the lowest 36-hole aggregate in the tournament’s history, Kaymer added a third round 72 and then a 69 to complete the final link in the chain.
Kaymer’s win was Tiger-esque in its execution, reminiscent of Woods at Pebble Beach in 2000 and of Rory McIlroy’s breakthrough Major win at Congressional in 2011. Kaymer, who claimed his first Major at the US PGA in 2010, now has the second lowest 72-hole score of 271 in the US Open’s history, surpassed only by McIlroy’s total of 268 in Maryland.
On a course which again asked serious questions and with difficult pin placements which didn’t allow for any aggressive pursuit, Kaymer’s closing 69 – which included four birdies and three bogeys – was a near complete performance. And when he did get into trouble, his mental game remained solid, suitably exemplified by his play of the 18th where, after getting into trouble of the tee, he holed a 12-footer for par to close out in style.
For Compton, a two-time heart transplant recipient, it was a career-defining runner-up finish. “I am a big believer in karma and this played up so special, by getting in the US Open at Muirfield in a play-off . . . a lot of guys believed in me and I think I finally believed in myself. This is huge for me, something I have been dreaming about for a long time. Truly awesome,” said Compton, who shared second place with Fowler. Both shot final rounds of 72.
Following on from a tied-fifth finish in the Masters, Fowler’s runner-up finish has again shown his aptitude to contend in the Majors. Fowler showed his own fortitude in recovering from a double-bogey six on the fourth to cover the remaining 14 holes in level par.
McIlroy – who will headline the Irish Open at Fota Island this coming week – finished with a 73 for 286, six over par, while Graeme McDowell, who plans to take in a reconnaissance trip to Hoylake before moving on to Fota, had a finishing 70 for 287, seven over par.
