1 for mom, now 1 for dad
After Mother’s Day win, Kaymer takes U.S. Open by 8 shots on Father’s Day
PINEHURST, N.C. — By getting the better of punishing Pinehurst No. 2 with an overpowering display of power, precision and putting, Martin Kaymer completed the parental double Sunday by winning the 114th U.S. Open by eight strokes.
Kaymer, who took a five-shot lead into the final round Sunday and didn’t let anyone get closer than four on a crispy course baked by sun-drenched skies, completed his wire-to-wire tour de force with a 1-under-par-69 to finish 72 holes at 9-under 271.
With back-to-back 5-under 65s in the first two rounds, Kaymer set the U.S. Open record for the lowest score (130) through the opening 36 holes and left spectators shaking their heads in wonderment at what he did to one of the toughest courses in the world.
Rickie Fowler and two-time heart-transplant recipient Erik Compton each closed with a 2-over 72 to finish in a tie for second at 1 under. By finishing among the top four, Compton earned a trip to the 2015 Masters.
‘‘Overall, it was a nice week and a very nice day,’’ said Kaymer, 29, who added the U.S. Open title to the PGA Championship he won in 2010. ‘‘I played very well the first two days to give myself a cushion, then I held it together [Saturday], and that gave me a nice cushion for today.’’
A month ago, Kaymer won The Players Championship on Mother’s Day and talked glowingly about what his mom, Rina, who died in 2008 after complications from skin cancer, meant to him. On Sunday, he paid tribute to his dad, Horst, on Father’s Day.
‘‘It was nice to win on Mother’s Day, and our Father’s Day [in Germany] was a couple of weeks ago, and I didn’t get him anything,’’ said Kaymer, who hugged his father just off the 18th green. ‘‘Maybe this works for today.’’
Not much was working for Kaymer two years ago. After winning the PGA in 2010 and reaching No. 1 in the world in 2011, Kaymer tried to incorporate a draw into his game. When he failed to realize results, he lost confidence. When he lost confidence, he hit more poor shots, which led to more tinkering with his swing.
Finally, Kaymer cleared his mind of swing thoughts and just played the game. And his game returned. He is the only player to win The Players and the U.S. Open in the same year.
‘‘Finally, I think I swing it the way I want to,’’ Kaymer said. ‘‘Not quite, but I’m getting very close. Obviously, the way I play golf right now, I shouldn’t think too much about technique. I’m very happy the way I hit the ball.’’
In a week he called special, Compton was a story himself with his remarkable run. He’s playing the best golf of his career and sees good things ahead.
‘‘No one was going to catch Kaymer this weekend,’’ Compton said. ‘‘I was playing for second; I think we all were playing for second. But it’s a career week for me. I proved to the world I’m not just the guy with two heart transplants. . . . It’s a dream come true [to go to the Masters].’’
Fowler, meanwhile, is proving he’s more than just an idol among teens worldwide. As he continues to work with Butch Harmon on his revamped swing, Fowler is showing up in contention more and more in the big events.
‘‘I hung in there and stayed patient,’’ said Fowler, who finished in a tie for fifth at the Masters in April. ‘‘I had a few shots get away from me, but Martin was playing in his own tournament. He was very impressive.’’