• US PGA Championship, Round Four

Kaymer claims victory for Europe in US PGA play-off

ESPN staff
August 13, 2010
Martin Kaymer acknowledges the crowd © Getty Images
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Martin Kaymer held his nerve to beat Bubba Watson in a play-off to win the US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, but the win was not without controversy when leader Dustin Johnson was handed a penalty on the final hole.

Johnson was a shot clear with one hole remaining, but after missing his par putt to win the championship, was handed a two-stroke penalty after he was deemed to have grounded his club in a bunker on his approach shot.

He had found himself in a patch of sand after his final tee-shot, but was unaware it was classed as a bunker. After being within inches of victory, Johnson finished with a share of sixth.

"It never once crossed my mind that I was in a sand trap," Johnson said. "The only thing worse could be if I had made that putt. I just thought I was on a piece of dirt that the crowd had trampled down. Obviously, I know the rules of golf. I can't ground my club in a bunker."

In a two-way play-off between two players almost certainly taking part in this year's Ryder Cup, it was American Watson who took an early lead after a birdie putt on the first play-off hole, but Kaymer levelled the scores after a birdie on the 17th. When Watson found the water on the 18th, Kaymer could sense the win, but a cautious approach shot left him with plenty to do, but a bogey-putt was enough to seal the victory.

Kaymer said afterwards: "In the regular round I felt a lot of pressure, especially on the last four or five holes. In the play-off I was very calm and confident. I just thought, 'don't make any stupid mistakes'. It was an amazing feeling on 18 with two putts to win - that felt pretty cool. I don't realise what has just happened - I just won my first major and I am just on Tour for four years. I have goosebumps."

Rory McIlroy battled all the way but could not find the spark to ignite his round to help him win his first Major title. McIlroy's round looked to have come alive when he sunk a 12-foot birdie putt on the tenth, but a bogey-five on the 15th left him one shot off the pace after a final-round 72. McIlroy finished tied for third with Zach Johnson, whose round was peppered with five birdies and three bogeys.

Dustin Johnson's second shot on the 18th left him with a two-stroke penalty © Getty Images
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Overnight leader Nick Watney, who was three strokes clear at the start of the day's play appeared to crumble under the pressure. His double bogey was a sign of things to come, and he ended the day seven shots back after a nine-over 81 which featured five bogeys and three doubles.

Tiger Woods was never in contention on the final day, but he showed improvements from his 18-over disaster at the Bridgestone Invitational last weekend. The world No. 1 failed to hit a single fairway on the back nine during his final-round 73 which included four birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey.

The round of the day belonged to Phil Mickelson, who had left himself with too much to do on the final day, but charged up the leaderboard with a five-under 67 to move to six-under. His round, featuring five birdies and an eagle-three on the fifth, was enough to see him tied for 12th with Paul Casey, who posted his best round of the weekend, holing three birdies in as many holes on the back nine to card a three-under 69.

"That was quite good, but it always could have been better," Casey said. "I had a few bogeys today, but it was very good and the course was very tough. Today was a huge opportunity to jump right up that leaderboard - Mickelson proved that with the scores he was shooting this morning and I wanted to do the same. Could it have been better? Yes, but that's the same case with every round we ever play, but I'm still happy with 69 today."

Darren Clarke posted a 73 to finish one-over for the tournament, while England's Ross McGowan endured a day to forget - his final-round 81 featured nine bogeys and a double bogey.

Jeff Overton's seven-over 79 may not have been anything to write home about, but he is believed to have played the quickest round in US PGA Championship history. Overton played as a single following Ian Poulter's withdrawal through illness, and needed just two hours and nine minutes to complete 18 holes.

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