Former champion Martin Kaymer showed what was possible – both good and bad – in the final round of the 124th US Open. Ten years after leading from start to finish and winning by eight shots to secure his second major title at Pinehurst, Kaymer carded a closing 73 to finish 13 over par, two hours before the last group were due to tee off. The former world number one birdied the first, fifth, 10th and 13th – where a forward tee had brought the green into range – but also made a double bogey on the ninth and ran up a quadruple-bogey eight on the 14th.
“I think it’s very fair, I think you can shoot two or three under par,” Kaymer told the PA news agency. “I think the USGA set up the golf course really nicely the last four days, especially over the weekend. “You do have some tricky pins but you know that.
You have to play away from flags quite often so you rely on a lot of putts inside 10 feet because you will miss the odd green here and there. “I didn’t miss many within 10 feet in 2014 and I said that to my caddie walking down the 18th. I was 22 shots better 10 years ago, which is only just over five shots a day, but you can lose five shots here no problem.
” Asked about his problems on the 14th, Kaymer added: “I hit a decent bunker shot which just trickled over (the green) and then it didn’t really matter if I finished 50th or 60th so I tried to hit a really nice, cute pitch shot and it came up short twice, but it was a fun week. I enjoyed the challeng.
