German golfer Martin Kaymer wins PGA Grand Slam

Martin Kaymer

Southampton (Bermuda), Oct 16 (IANS/CMC) Germany's Martin Kaymer defeated Bubba Watson in a sudden-death play-off to win the PGA Grand Slam at the windswept Port Royal Golf Course here. Kaymer, who pocketed $600,000 Wednesday for the win, birdied from seven feet but Watson failed with his putt from five feet in the play-off after both the golfers finished at a score of six-under 136 in the four-man 36-hole tournament for the year's major winners, reports CMC.

Reigning Masters champion Watson, who trailed Kaymer by two strokes overnight, appeared to have the title in the bag when he went to the par-five 17th holding a two-shot lead but he bogeyed it after hitting water as his rival levelled with a birdie.

Both parred the 18th hole to set up the play-off and the players returned to the same hole after both finished on six-under-par 136.

World No.1 Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who began the second round four shots behind overnight leader Kaymer, finished third, eight shots behind after struggling to a disappointing four-over 75 as gusts of wind between 25 and 30 miles per hour buffeted the course.

McIlroy went out at level-par 36 but then ran into trouble with three bogeys and a double bogey at the par-three 13th before getting a belated birdie on the signature par-three 16th hole along a cliff edge. He finished on 144 and picked up a cheque of $250,000.

Jim Furyk, who filled in as the fourth player as an alternate from the Major Champions Point List because McIlroy won two majors this season - the British Open and PGA Championship - and last year's Slam winner Adam Scott of Australia was unavailable because of a scheduling conflict, finished one shot behind McIlroy on 145 after shooting a two-over 73.