If you are a Martin Kaymer fan, I’m sure you sure enjoyed this enjoyed this tournament. If you aren’t, and were just looking forward to a competitive major, then this tournament had all the drama of watching paint dry. Martin Kaymer doesn’t have to apologize for anything. He led this tournament from wire to wire, and just lapped the field for a 8 shot win that wasn’t that close. Kaymer is a world class player that as recently as 2011 was the number 1 ranked player in the world. Only 3 players broke par, so that makes Kaymer’s -9 finish all the more impressive.
Kaymer is now a 2-time major winner with this year’s U.S. Open to go along with the 2010 PGA Championship. He also won the Player’s Championship in May, and is having an outstanding season. At not yet 30 years of age, Kaymer looks like a player that could win 2 or 3 majors in his career. Bernard Langer watch out, because Martin Kaymer is vying to become Germany’s greatest player ever.
With Kaymer’s win, I think we are seeing the post-Woods post-Mickelson future of golf, and it looks a lot like the post-Nicklaus post-Tom Watson era. There won’t be any truly dominant players, but a player like Martin Kaymer could have a Nick Faldo type career, which is pretty darn good. There will be great Hall of Fame players for sure, but not the dominant kind.
- Phil Mickelson quest for that elusive U.S. Open title will continue. The bottom line for Mickelson was he came into the tournament not playing well, and he here was merely OK this week finishing T28. Mickelson has plenty of work to do on his game if he wants to contend in either of the year’s final 2 majors the British or the PGA.
- At least Mickelson is still competing, Tiger Woods didn’t play and who knows exactly when he will return. It’s hard to envision him getting his game back in order in time to win a major this year.
- Do you know who Eric Compton is? What an inspirational story. Compton finished T2. He’s had 2 heart transplants in his life, and is on his third heart. Great story, as Compton had the tournament of his life.
- Quietly Rickie Fowler has put together his 2nd straight top-5 finish in a major. Under the tutelage of Butch Harmon, Fowler’s game is going to result in a victory in a major. Fowler is the heir apparent to Phil Mickelson. Popular with fans with a bit of charisma, it’s only a matter of time.
- We’re just waiting on Adam Scott to win another major. His T9 finish was his tenth top 15 finish in his last eleven majors. Kaymer is the world’s hottest player, but at the moment Scott is still the best player in the world. He’s a threat to win any tournament he plays in.
- This U.S. Open had strong finishes for players that will be among the world’s best in the next 10-15 years. Jason Day (26), Keegan Bradley (28), Rickie Fowler (25), Duston (29), all were in the top 10. Add in Rory Mcilory (25), Jordan Spieth (20), and this year’s winner Martin Kaymer (29) and you see who will be golf’s next generation of top players.
- Lee Westwood didn’t make the cut. On a course like Pinehurst that requires a precise short game, it was a bad match for Westwood. His career long majorless streak continues.
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