By Paul Osborne

Martin Kaymer has won the US Open as he finished eight shots clear of his nearest rivals ©Getty ImagesMartin Kaymer continued his perilous form in North Carolina today as he strode to an eight shot victory at the US Open in Pinehurst.

The German looked on course to seal his second career-major title by the end of play on Friday (June 13), after setting a record-breaking rounds of 65 and 65 on the first two days of action to lead by six coming into the weekend.

Despite tougher conditions yesterday, the 29-year-old, who won his first major title at the PGA Championships in 2010, held his nerve to take a five-stroke lead coming into today's final day.

There was no sign that the German was going to falter today either, as he carded 69 to end nine under par, eight shots clear of his closest pursuers Rickie Fowler and Eric Compton of America.

In fact, the final day at the famous Pinehurst No2 seemed more of a victory lap for last month's Players' Championship winner as he looked positively unabashed by any attempts to bridge the five shot lead he'd carried into today's play.

With the victory, Kaymer becomes the first player from Continental Europe to win the US Open and joins countryman Bernhard Langer, a two-time Masters winner, as a multiple major champion.

He also became just the eighth player to lead the US Open wire to wire and is now one of only five players to win the US Open, the PGA Championship and The Players' Championship, joining the impressive quartet of Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Raymond Floyd and Lee Trevino.

The final day of action seemed more of a victory lap for Martin Kaymer as he looked unphased by any attempts to bridge his lead atop the leaderboard ©Getty ImagesThe final day of action seemed more of a victory lap for Martin Kaymer as he looked unphased by any attempts to bridge his lead atop the leaderboard ©Getty Images



"I didn't make many mistakes," said Kaymer, who had four birdies against three bogeys today.

"The last two wins that I had in America, especially this week, I played very solid the first two days and that gave me a very nice cushion for the weekend.

"But to shoot only one over par [at] Pinehurst on Saturday and Sunday is good.

"The way I played I was very happy, the way I kept it together yesterday.

"And that gave me a good cushion for today."

A drop shot on the seventh handed the briefest flicker of hope to the chasing pack as Kaymer's lead fell to four, the lowest it had been over the four-days.

Nobody was able to capitalise on the mistake, however, with Fowler's double bogey on the fourth effectively ending his title hopes, whilst Compton, who became a favourite among the galleries because of his double heart transplant, dropped shots on seven, nine, 11 and 12 to see his challenge drift away.

Three bogeys between four and 11 did it for Swedish challenger Henrik Stenson, while Brandt Snedeker of America slipped down the leaderboard with a couple of dropped shots on the front nine.

Kaymer added to a birdie-three on the third hole with birdies at nine, 13 and 14 to cement his position atop the table as he began to climb his way back up the world rankings follow a disappointing couple of years on Tour.

Defending champion Justin Rose got to one under after an eagle at the fifth but fell away and signed for a 72 to finish three over, one adrift of world number one Adam Scott, whose 69 earned him a share of eighth place.

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