Golf: Kaymer takes lead in US PGA event
Martin Kaymer of Germany plays a shot to the first green during the first round of THE PLAYERS Championship on The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on May 8, 2014 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. PHOTO: AFP
Germany’s Martin Kaymer birdied his last four holes to complete a record-tying nine-under par 63 for a two-stroke lead after the opening round of the US PGA Players Championship.
Kaymer, who began on the 10th tee, fired the lowest nine-hole score in Players history, a seven-under 29 on the front side at TPC Sawgrass.
“Today was a very special round,” he said. “I didn’t make many mistakes.”
Kaymer’s 63 matched Fred Couples in 1992, Greg Norman in 1994 and Roberto Castro last year for the lowest round in the tournament’s 40-year history. That moved Kaymer two strokes clear of American Russell Henley with South Korean Bae sang-Moon three shots adrift in third.
Kaymer made short birdie putts at the par-5 11th and par-4 15th, but sizzled after the turn, starting with a 26-foot birdie putt at the first.
Kaymer reached the green at the par-5 second in two and tapped in for birdie, then added a 14-foot birdie at the fourth before closing with four birdies in a row.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 10th, 2014.