Martin Kaymer says his Players Championship victory at Sawgrass felt like another major title. Kaymer became just the fourth European to win the event in 41 years after carding a final round of 71 to finish 13 under par, one shot ahead of Jim Furyk. The former world number one had looked to be cruising to victory when he held a three-shot lead on the 14th hole, only for an approaching thunderstorm to force the players off the course.
Furyk was facing a short par putt on the 18th when play was suspended, the American biting his putter in frustration as thunder sounded overhead. The former US Open champion duly holed out to complete a superb 66 when play resumed after a 90-minute delay, and then watched as Kaymer ran up his first double bogey of the week on the 15th after pulling his drive into the trees and fluffing his third shot into a greenside bunker.
After surprisingly opting not to chip from off the 16th green and three-putting for par, Kaymer looked certain to drop another shot when his tee shot on the famous par-three 17th caught the bank of a bunker and span back to within inches of the water. However, the man who holed the putt which ensured Europe retained the Ryder Cup in 2012 produced another brilliant stroke under pressure, holing a curling par attempt from 29 feet to remain one ahead.
A par on the last secured the win and meant Kaymer followed in the footsteps of European winners Sandy Lyle (1987), Sergio Garcia (2008) and Henrik Stenson (2009). Garcia birdied the last to finish outright third on 11 under with Justin Rose and overnight joint leader Jordan Spieth sharing fourth on 10 under. Rory McILroy was in a share of sixth place on 9 under par.
