Martin Kaymer conquers Pinehurst, captures 2014 U.S. Open championship

For just the eighth time in 114 years touring America's golf cathedrals, the United States Open was won wire-to-wire.

Former World No. 1 and defending Players' champion Martin Kaymer won the second major championship of his career and became the first German to win the U.S. Open, shooting 9-under at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club's famed No. 2 course.

Kaymer rolled in this putt to clinch the eight-stroke triumph. 

[Courtesy NBC]

Aside from a slight hiccup on moving day, the 29-year-old commanded the 156-man field from the moment he took the tee Thursday and subdued a course designed to frustrate, manipulate, and conquer the greatest golfers in the world. 

Pinehurst No. 2 was uncharacteristically forgiving early in its third opportunity to host, but eventually asserted itself by Donald Ross' design. The players who boasted scores in red figures were eventually dwindled down to a list of just three players by tournament's end.

Kaymer set both tournament and course records ahead of the cut, firing a pair of 65s to construct a lead that unfortunately sucked much of the life from the tournament. Kaymer's cruise control, coupled with underwhelming performances from the likes of Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson and Adam Scott, contributed to a tournament already poised to suffer in the absence of Tiger Woods. 

Erik Compton finished in a tie for second, but ran away with the tournament's feel-good story. The 34-year-old played in just his second major championship six years after undergoing his second heart transplant surgery. He would start strong, netting three birdies through 10 holes, but suffered three bogeys on the back nine. 

In his best Sunday orange, Rickie Fowler played in the first final pairing of his young career, but failed to invoke any fear into the mind of the runaway leader. The 25-year-old matched Compton's 1-under score to finish in a tie for second. 

Dustin Johnson was incredibly consistent through three rounds, but a troubled putting stroke precluded him from making a serious run. He lingered in red for virtually the entire tournament, until this: