Kaymer wins thrilling PGA Championship

HAVEN – The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat marked an incredible finish in the PGA Championship Sunday at Whistling Straits.

Martin Kaymer, 25, became the first German PGA champion after defeating Bubba Watson of the United States in a three-hole playoff.

American Dustin Johnson suffered a stunning blow on the final hole that cost him a playoff spot. Johnson received a two-stroke penalty after the final round for grounding his club in a sand trap off the 18th fairway. Johnson didn’t think he was in a bunker because it was a patch of sand that had been trampled down by the crowd.

Johnson missed a 7-foot par putt on the par-4 18th that seemingly dropped him into a three-way playoff. He led by one shot heading into the final hole.

Kaymer talked about what winning a major means to him and his career.

“Well, the majors are the biggest tournaments that you can win in your career. I cannot win anything bigger,” Kaymer said.

“The majors, they are the biggest tournaments we play, and just knowing that I can win a tournament like that gives me huge confidence for any other tournament I will play for the rest of my career.

“And obviously, to win the other majors, they are a little bit different. If you play in Britain, obviously you have to play a little bit different golf. But now I know that I can win and that I can beat the best players in the world.

“This was the toughest field all year, and just for my confidence, that is I think the biggest thing that you can get,” Kaymer said.

“It was a weird day today, obviously, with the finish that you saw,” Watson said.

“You know, I wasn't on anybody's radar. Nobody in this media center thought I had a chance this morning. Nobody talked about me probably this morning.

“The weather gave me an opportunity to do it, kind of like Travelers, nobody expected me to win that either.

“You know, I just played solid, just put my head down and tried to play as good of golf as I could and try to grind out a good finish, if not a win. And then when it worked out that I made some birdies and made some good pars, and I got a chance to go in a playoff,” Watson said.

Kaymer and Watson tied for the lead after the regulation 72 holes at 11-under-par 277. Kaymer sank a 15-foot par putt on the 18th to force a playoff with Watson who was watching in the clubhouse.

Kaymer edged Watson by one stroke in the playoff that began on the No. 10 hole, followed by the 17th and 18th. Watson took a one-shot lead in the playoff with a birdie on the par-4 10th.

Kaymer pulled even with a birdie on the par-3 17th hole. Kaymer bogeyed the 500-yard 18th and Watson had a double-bogey.

Watson tried to hit the green from a tough lie in the rough but his 7-iron, second shot came up way short and into the water. He took a one-stroke penalty for hitting the ball into the water.

Watson nearly made bogey when his bunker shot hit the pin but bounded away, and he made a short putt. After seeing Watson’s ball go into the water, Kaymer played it safe and chipped out from the rough and into the fairway. He then used a 7-iron to within 15 feet of the cup for a two-putt bogey and the victory.

“I had 206 [yards] to the front of the green, right of the pin, 210 maybe. And so I was hoping I would catch a flyer with a 6-iron,” said Watson about his second shot at 18.

“I hit it as good as I could, just came out dead. It was into the wind, too. And before you ask, if I had it to do over again, I would hit it every day.

“I play to win a golf tournament. I don't play to lay up and hopefully make a par and tie. “ And I went for the win, and I'd do it over again, just like I did earlier in the day. I went for the win on 17 and 18 and just hit bad shots,” Watson said.