Martin Kaymer won a gripping Players Championship by displaying the same precision and cool temperament that helped him capture the 2010 US PGA Championship and rise to world No.1 that year.

The German survived a 90-minute weather delay, a late double-bogey and TPC Sawgrass’ notorious island 17th hole to graft a one-stroke victory over Jim Furyk. This was Kaymer’s first victory in America since the 2010 PGA and first anywhere since claiming the limited-field Nedbank tournament in South Africa in 2012.

Martin Kaymer celebrates with the Players trophy after his one-stroke victory. PHOTO: Getty Images

Key for Kaymer this time was sinking a 28-foot par putt on the 17th green to keep a one-stroke lead before parring the last hole for the narrow victory. Due to the growing darkness, the tournament’s new three-hole play-off system would have debuted on Monday morning had it been required.

“It was more than big,” Kaymer said of his vital par save. “It was a good putt with a little bit of luck. Fortunately, it happened at the right hole.”

Kaymer is just the fourth European champion after Sandy Lyle in 1987, Sergio Garcia in 2008 and Henrik Stenson a year later. The phlegmatic 29-year-old also joins an elite club among 21st century golfers who have claimed a major, a World Golf Championship and the Players, regarded by many as the ‘fifth major championship’. That esteemed group includes only Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott and now Kaymer. (David Duval, a past major and Players champion, won the 2000 WGC–World Cup but with Woods as a partner.)

The 41st Players champion led from the outset of this edition courtesy of a course-record-equalling 63 in the first round. Seemingly ever-present American tyro Jordan Spieth closed the gap to a stroke through 36 holes and tied Kaymer for the lead by going bogey-free for the first 54 holes, the first to do so at TPC Sawgrass since Greg Norman 20 years ago. The pair shared a three-stroke advantage over Sergio Garcia and John Senden starting the final round.

Spieth’s clean scorecard was finally blotted after 58 holes as he surrendered strokes in a hurry, carding five bogeys in an 11-hole stretch starting at the 5th hole. Meanwhile, Kaymer crafted birdies at the first three par-5s to reach 15-under-par. With Spieth stalling and Garcia in limbo, Furyk emerged as Kaymer’s chief competitor. The 2003 US Open champ carded an error-free 66 and moved to 12-under with a two-putt birdie at the par-5 16th hole. Furyk had a chance to birdie the 18th but his putt slid wide and as he lined up his short return putt, sirens sounded to halt play as lightning in the area drew nearer.

Upon resumption, Furyk holed out to post 12-under as Kaymer immediately made things interesting by making his only mistake of the day – a sloppy double-bogey at the 15th hole. His lead cut to one, Kaymer didn’t birdie the final par-5 and almost dunked his tee shot at the par-3 17th before hitting a mediocre chip that left a downhill, left-to-right slider from 28 feet for par. The nerveless German calmly drained the putt before parring the last without bother to secure a US$1.8 million payday.

For Furyk, this was his second straight barnstorming finish to clinch second place – which at the Players is still worth US$1.08 million – and provided a clubhouse target for Kaymer. Garcia birdied the 72nd hole to take third place alone while Spieth shared fourth with Justin Rose, who claimed a different title – the first player to be exonerated of a moving-ball penalty under the revised “visible to the naked eye” rule.

Kaymer hits to the 18th green during the final round of The Players Championship. PHOTO: Getty Images

The Englishman’s ball appeared to topple as he addressed it behind the 18th green in the third round. Rose suspected his ball had moved slightly but couldn’t be certain. He saved par and close-zoom television replays revealed his ball oscillated slightly, incurring a two-stroke penalty (one for the rule breach and one for failing to replace the ball). Yet upon further review, because high-tech TV cameras were necessary to detect the movement – and Rose’s youthful eyes could not – it was deemed under the new rule that the reigning US Open champion should be pardoned under Decision 18-4.

In a week during which several players among the Aussie contingent shot fine 18-hole scores, none could string together four good rounds. Senden and Matt Jones both started the final round with an outside chance at victory but shot 77 and 74, respectively. World No.1-elect Adam Scott opened with a disastrous 77 only to bounce back with a 67 to make the cut on the number. He began Sunday poised to secure a top-16 finish that would lift him to the summit of the world ranking, but shot 73 to share 38th place. No matter, barring a victory in the next fortnight by the other aspirants, the projected numbers show Scott will be world No.1 by the end of May.

LEADERBOARD

1. Martin Kaymer (Ger)   63-69-72-71—275

2. Jim Furyk (US)          70-68-72-66—276

3. Sergio Garcia (Esp)   67-71-69-70—277

T4. Justin Rose (Eng)    67-71-71-69—278

T4. Jordan Spieth (US)   67-66-71-74—278

ALSO:

T17. Matt Jones (NSW) 70-69-69-74—282

T23. Marc Leishman (Vic)         70-72-74-67—283

T26. John Senden (Qld)            70-69-68-77—284

T38. Adam Scott (Qld)  77-67-69-73—286

T48. Steven Bowditch (Qld)      72-72-71-72—287

69. Geoff Ogilvy (Vic)   69-70-76-78—293

MDF. Stuart Appleby (Vic)        71-73-77—221

* For the full leaderboard, click here