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 Geplaatst: 16-07-2019 02:30:04 Onderwerp: |
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| PINEHURST, N.C. -- The U.S. Open trophy Martin Kaymer won Sunday was all he needed to prove he was anything but a one-hit wonder in the majors, and that the two years he spent trying to build a complete game were worth all the doubt that followed him. As he set it down on the table, Kaymer rubbed off a tiny smudge on the gleaming silver, which was only fitting. Over four days at Pinehurst No. 2, he dusted the field in a performance that ranks among the best. Kaymer set the 36-hole scoring record by opening with a pair of 65s. He never let anyone closer than four shots over the final 48 holes. Equipped with a five-shot lead, he was the only player from the last eight groups to break par. Welcome back, Martin. "You want to win majors in your career, but if you can win one more, it means so much more," Kaymer said after closing with a 1-under 69 for an eight-shot victory over Rickie Fowler and two-time heart transplant recipient Erik Compton. "Some people, especially when I went through that low, called me a one-hit wonder and those things. So its quite nice proof, even though I dont feel like I need to prove a lot to people. But somehow, its quite satisfying to have two under your belt." The 29-year-old German is a forgotten star no more. Kaymer returned to the elite in golf by turning the toughest test in golf into a runaway at Pinehurst No. 2, becoming only the seventh player to go wire-to-wire in the 114 years of the U.S. Open. Only three players finished the championship under par. One guy appeared to be playing a different tournament. "No one was catching Kaymer this week," Compton said. "I was playing for second. I think we all were playing for second." Only a late bogey kept Kaymer from joining Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy as the only players to finish a U.S. Open in double digits under par. He let his putter fall to the ground when his 15-foot par putt on the 18th hole dropped into the centre of the cup, like so many others had this week. Kaymer finished at 9-under 271. His last two wins are the U.S. Open and The Players Championship, with the strongest and deepest field in golf. He never trailed after any round in both of them. "Martin was playing his own tournament," Fowler said after recovering from a double bogey on the fourth hole to close with a 72. This U.S. Open really ended Friday. No one had ever opened 65-65 in the U.S. Open, which broke the 36-hole record that McIlroy set three years ago rain-softened Congressional. When it could have gotten away from Kaymer in the third round, he stayed strong for a stabilizing 72. "He kind of killed the event in the first two days," Henrik Stenson said. "He went out and shot two 65s and left everyone in the dust." He did it again in the final round. Knowing the gallery was against him -- the loud cheers for Fowler, clapping when Kaymers ball bounded over the back of the second green -- he holed a 10-foot par putt, and then drilled a driver on the 313-yard third hole onto the green to set up a two-putt birdie. Fowler, in the final group of a major for the first time, fell back quickly on the fourth hole. He sent his third shot from a sandy path over the green and into some pine trees and had to make a 25-foot putt just to escape with double bogey. "It was probably the toughest day that I played golf today, especially the first nine," Kaymer said. "Because if you have two or three Americans chasing you, playing in America, its never easy being a foreigner. But I said at the ceremony as well that the fans were very fair. But it was a tough one. If you lead by five shots, its not easy. "A lot of people think, Well, you have a little bit of a cushion. But if you approach that day in that way, with that attitude, it can be gone so quickly." No chance on this day. Compton was the only player who really put up a fight. His birdie on No. 8 got him within four shots. Three bogeys in a five-hole stretch on the back nine did him in. Even so, Compton received a standing ovation walking the 18th green. He somehow scratched out a par from 50 yards away against the lip of a bunker. It wasnt the Hollywood script he wanted, but it wasnt a bad consolation -- his first trip to the Masters next April. "Ive never gotten this far along in my story," Compton said. "Im thrilled." Kaymer joined Seve Ballesteros, Ernie Els, Woods and McIlroy as the only players to win two majors and be No. 1 in the world before turning 30 since the world ranking began in 1986. He is the fourth European in the last five years to win the U.S. Open, after Europeans had gone 40 years without this title. Its a rebirth for Kaymer, who reached No. 1 in the world in February 2011, only to believe that he needed a more rounded game. His preferred shot was a fade. Kaymer spent two hard years and a lot of lonely hours on the range in Germany and his American home in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was as low as No. 63 in the world six weeks ago. Now he goes to No. 11. Woods still holds the most dominant U.S. Open win -- 15 shots at Pebble Beach in 2000. McIlroy holds the scoring record at 16-under 268. "Im wondering how he did it," McIlroy said. "Obviously, if you limit the mistakes, you might end up a couple under for the week. But to do what hes doing ... I think its nearly more impressive than what I did at Congressional." Among those who congratulated Kaymer on the 18th green was Sandra Gal, a German player on the LPGA Tour. The U.S. Womens Open takes over Pinehurst No. 2 on Monday. Ryquell Armstead Womens Jersey . -- Two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana agreed Tuesday to a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles as he tries to come back from the second major operation on his left shoulder. Telvin Smith Jersey . Messis father, Jorge Horacio Messi, is apparently still under investigation for an alleged 4 million euros ($5.3 million) in unpaid taxes from Messis image rights from 2007-09. Messis public relations firm confirmed Spanish media reports that the state prosecutor has asked for Messi to be dropped from the investigation that began in June 2013. http://www.officialjacksonvillejaguarspro.com/Yannick-ngakoue-jaguars-jersey/ . -- Miguel Angel Jimenez quickly shifted his focus back to the Ryder Cup after winning his first Champions Tour event. Leonard Fournette Jaguars Jersey . Orlando is to begin play in the MLS for the 2015 season. Kaka, who currently plays with AC Milan, is expected to be loaned out to his home club Sao Paulo for the upcoming season before joining Orlando for next season. Josh Oliver Jaguars Jersey . - Young and old.MINNEAPOLIS – When R.A. Dickey takes the mound on Thursday afternoon at Target Field, the forecast temperature of one Celsius will test a man who throws a unique pitch, the knuckleball, which is better suited to climate-controlled, humid conditions. Dickey insists hell be ready. “It would be the same challenge that I would have if I was pitching conventionally and just trying to get my body warm and going,” said Dickey. “As far as the conditions, cold isnt necessarily an enemy to the pitch. If Im throwing a good one it shouldnt matter.” The Blue Jays are armed with an eight-man bullpen, which include long options J.A. Happ, Todd Redmond and Esmil Rogers. Thanks to an off-day Monday and Wednesdays postponement, its all hands on deck should Dickey struggle. “Well know early on, I can guarantee you that,” said manager John Gibbons of whether Dickeys on his game. “Were fine down in the ‘pen so if we have to yank him, if hes not effective at all, weve got plenty of guys down there.” Dickey has gone bad start, good start, bad start over his first three outings. Hes gotten the decision in each, posting a 1-2 record and a 5.30 ERA in the early going. His walk total, which plummeted in the second half of last season compared to the first, has crept back up to 4.8 per nine innings pitched. Hell do his best to keep his body warm, specifically his fingertips because theyre crucial to the knuckleballs grip, as the game goes on. “Whatever thats going to be,” said Dickey. “Ride the bike a little bit in-between innings, come in (the clubhouse,) heating pack, whatever. We have plenty of stuff to keep us warm in-between innings. Well see.” The Blue Jays need a split of the doubleheader to secure a third-consecutive series victory. They took two of three from the Astros last week and two of three from the Orioles in Baltimore over the weekend. LINDS BACK TROUBLE IS BACK Adam Lind wouldnt, or couldnt, predict whether the lower back stiffness he suffered on Tuesday night will land him on the disabled list. “Were just going to try to do wwhat we can to get me on the field as soon as we can,” said Lind.dddddddddddd. “We cant let it drag on,” said Gibbons. “Hopefully we can get through a couple of days without him. Were playing pretty good right now. We need him. Hes been a big contributor but its day to day.” Linds back seized in the fourth inning of Tuesday nights win as he was running to second base following a walk. He stayed in the game, singling and scoring in the sixth, before being lifted for pinch-hitter Josh Thole in the seventh. He was limping in the clubhouse after the game. It was a struggle to put on his shoes. Since then, Lind has made progress. “A lot,” he said. “Im functionable so hopefully have a good day of treatment all day today, just continue to try to get healthy and hopefully by the weekend Ill be ready to play.” The worst time of day is when Lind wakes up. His back spasms; he begins to move around and it loosens up somewhat. “Thats probably something thats going to linger with him for the rest of his career, I would think,” said Gibbons. “Those backs can be … so there can be times you need to give him a break if he flares up so you can calm it down. Hopefully it doesnt get any worse.” JANSSEN SUFFERS SETBACK Casey Janssen wont throw for the next two or three days with his minor league rehabilitation assignment halted as he tries to work his way back from an abdominal strain. “Its just not right,” said Gibbons. “Its not like its a lot worse but he doesnt feel quite comfortable enough yet to start cutting it loose.” Janssen pitched a scoreless inning for Single-A Dunedin on Tuesday night, allowing a hit and striking out a batter. GOSE RECALLED The Blue Jays recalled Anthony Gose for the second game of the doubleheader, when both clubs are allowed to carry a 26th player on the active roster. NIGHTCAP PITCHING MATC-HUP The Blue Jays will send right-hander Dustin McGowan (1-1, 4.00) to the mound tonight against Twins right-hander Mike Pelfrey (0-2, 7.84). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 EDT. ' ' ' |
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