Golf

Martin Kaymer takes two-shot lead in Bermuda

Rory McIlroy cards two-under 69 in first round of PGA Grand Slam of Golf

Martin Kaymer of Germany hits his tee shot on the par-3 16th hole during the first round of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, Bermuda. Photograph: Scott Halleran/Getty Images
Martin Kaymer of Germany hits his tee shot on the par-3 16th hole during the first round of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, Bermuda. Photograph: Scott Halleran/Getty Images
Tue Oct 14 2014 - 20:56

US Open champion Martin Kaymer held a two-shot lead over Bubba Watson after carding an impressive 65 on day one of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda.

The tournament pits the winners of the four Majors against each other over two rounds, with Kaymer lining up alongside Masters champion Watson and Rory McIlroy, who triumphed in the British Open and the US PGA Championship.

Jim Furyk completes the bill due to McIlroy having won two of the four showpiece events this year.

Kaymer was quick out of the blocks on Tuesday and hit birdies on the opening two holes to assume control of the leaderboard.

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American duo Watson and Furyk had to wait until the fifth hole before making a dent in that lead, but the two-time Major winner from Germany responded with a birdie and an eagle on the sixth and seventh holes respectively.

A bogey at 13 proved to be the only blot on an otherwise unblemished copybook for Kaymer, who gained a further two shots on the back nine to end the day at six under par.

Having started well, McIlroy hit a sticky patch as he approached the midway point, registering bogeys on eight and nine, and he ended the day with a 69 – two strokes adrift of second-placed Watson, who was four under.

Furyk was bringing up the rear after the opening day’s play, posting three bogeys on the back nine, including two over the final three holes, en route to a one-over 72.

For Kaymer, who finished one shot off tying the course record at the Port Royal Golf Course, consistency was the key to his solid start.

“I started off very well,” he said. “The first six or seven holes, they were a little bit . . . they’re not so windy, so I thought, ‘if you can start off with a couple of birdies in the first six holes, it would be really nice’. But then I got a big bonus there on seven. It was a very good eight iron that I hit to three or four feet.

“Then I played really consistent. I think it’s important on this kind of grass that you need to hit a lot of fairways. I think that I hit a few today.

“My putting felt good. I just made one three-putt today. That’s why I made the bogey. But only one bogey is fine. If you make only one bogey on that golf course, you should do fairly okay.”