Saturday, 14 June 2014 00:21
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Reuters: Germany’s Martin Kaymer stunningly birdied four of his last nine holes in the toughest conditions of the day to seize a three-shot lead in the U.S. Open first round at Pinehurst Resort on Thursday.
Seeking a second major title after clinching his first in the 2010 PGA Championship, Kaymer produced sizzling form on a hot and sunny afternoon as he fired a five-under-par 65 on Pinehurst’s fabled No. 2 Course.
Out in one-under 34, the 29-year-old German stormed home with birdies at the 10th, 14th, 16th and 17th to take control of the second of the season’s four majors on a layout that had been softened overnight but became increasingly firm on Thursday.
“I would have never expected myself to shoot such a low round at Pinehurst because of the conditions, but it’s a very, very good round of golf,” Kaymer told reporters after shooting the lowest ever score at the venue in a U.S. Open.
“I just played really well today. I didn’t make many mistakes, I hit a lot of fairways, I hit a lot of greens. It is a good start, but that’s it. There’s nothing more than that. Five under par is exceptional. But it is not normal, so no one really should expect me to shoot another five under the next three rounds,” said Kaymer, who gained a major confidence boost from his victory at the elite Players Championship last month.
Former champion Graeme McDowell, without playing at his best, delivered a consummate display of course management to card a 68 and ended the round level with Americans Kevin Na and Fran Quinn and burly Zimbabwean Brendon de Jonge.
McDowell, who claimed his only major title in the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, was delighted with his start.
“I played it very conservatively,” the Northern Irishman said after carefully negotiating Pinehurst’s No. 2 Course where danger lurked on virtually every hole because of the challenging turtle-back greens.
“I positioned the ball great off the tee. I drove it really well all day. I generally kept the ball exactly where I wanted to going into the flags, short of a lot of the greens on the correct side of most of the flags. It wasn’t my best ball-striking display this morning, but you don’t have to strike it amazing around here, you just have to position the ball correctly at all times,” said the 34-year-old from Portrush.
Defending champion Justin Rose of England, aiming to become the event’s first back-to-back winner in 25 years, launched his title defence with a 72.
“I hit every tee shot just as I wanted to,” Rose said after mixing three birdies with five bogeys and totalling 30 putts. “I’m swinging it much better than I have been and I played the par-threes really well. Just my short game was very poor. I need to work on that.”
