Reigning US Open champion Martin Kaymer of Germany birdied the first playoff hole on Wednesday to defeat reigning Masters champion Bubba Watson and win the 32nd US PGA Grand Slam of Golf.
Kaymer, who won his second career major in June last year at Pinehurst, and Watson, the big-hitting US star who claimed his second green jacket in April of that year, both finished the 36-hole showdown of major winners on six-under-par 136 at Bermuda’s Port Royal layout.
However, in a replay of the 18th hole that both parred in the final round, Kaymer birdied on a 10-foot putt similar to one on the same line he had faced a few minutes earlier from twice the distance while Watson missed a short birdie bid to hand Kaymer the crown.
“I was surprised he missed it,” Kaymer said. “You don’t want to win a golf tournament that way. Of course I would take it, but you don’t really want the other guy missing a short putt.”
Watson said the windy conditions ruined what he saw as a strong final putt.
“I thought I hit a great putt. Stroked it well,” Watson said. “I’m guessing wind bounce. There’s no way that ball should go that way, unless it’s wind forced.”
“Martin played the best all week. He didn’t really hit too many wayward shots and came away as the champion,” the American added.
Kaymer knew that Watson’s putt was trickier than it seemed, saying; “I had a similar putt earlier in the regular round ... but his was a little bit longer and I knew that it was not an easy putt.”
“My putt, it was quite an advantage that I had the similar putt earlier, just a little bit longer, but pretty much the same line and I knew it didn’t break as much as I thought,” he added.
Kaymer opened Tuesday with a 65 to carry a four-shot lead over Watson into the final round, but could only manage a 71 on Wednesday, while Watson charged back with a 67.
Rory McIlroy fired a 75 to finish third on 144, one stroke ahead of Jim Furyk on a 73.
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Roger Federer on Wednesday said that staying involved with tennis in retirement helped him avoid feeling “like an alien” ahead of this week’s Laver Cup in Berlin. Federer, who helped create the tournament, retired at the Laver Cup in London two years ago and has since stayed involved with the competition as an ambassador. “I’m happy I went back right away to some tournaments,” the 43-year-old told reporters. “I feel I ripped the Band-Aid off quite quickly and when I walk around the tennis sites I still feel I belong there,” he said. “I don’t feel like an alien, which is a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two