Kaymer leads Grand Slam

Bubba Watson, Martin Kaymer, Rory McIlroy, Jim Furyk at the Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda.

US Open champion Martin Kaymer enjoyed a sparkling 65 to take a two-shot lead over Bubba Watson at the exclusive four-man PGA Grand Slam of Golf shootout in Bermuda.

The event at Port Royal in Bermuda sees the four major champions of the year clash in a two-round contest with Kaymer joined by Masters champion Watson and double major winner Rory McIlroy in the field.

Grand Slam of Golf

-6 Martin Kaymer
-4 Bubba Watson
-2 Rory McIlroy
+1 Jim Furyk

With world No 1 McIlroy winning back-to-back majors at the Open and then the USPGA Championship, Jim Furyk has been included as an alternate to make up the exclusive fourball.

Germany’s Kaymer started off the quickest in the 36-hole exhibition contest, as he made the only eagle of the day along with five birdies in his six-under round of 65.

Just the one bogey on the par-three 13th spoiled a flawless card for Kaymer, who had come flying out of the traps with birdies on the first two holes and reached the turn in a five-under 31.

Bubba second

Watson, who won his second green jacket at Augusta this year, grabbed five birdies and one bogey in his four-under round of 67, two shots behind Kaymer and two ahead of McIlroy.

The Northern Irishman got himself to three-under by the seventh, but three-putted the eighth and ninth for bogeys to slip back to one-under, and he improved by just one more shot to close on two-under and four behind the leader.

Furyk struggled the most out of the four players, with bogeys on 16 and 17 dropping him to a one-over round of 72 and seven shots off the pace.

Martin Kaymer at the picturesque but tough par-three 16th

“I started off very well,” said Kaymer. “The first six, seven holes, they were a little bit - they're not so windy, so I thought you can start off with a couple birdies the first six holes would be really nice.

“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.”

Relaxed

The atmosphere is obviously more relaxed with just four players in the field, and Watson said there was merely just small talk between friends going on during the round.

“We don't really banter, like picking on each other or anything or making fun,” said Watson.

“It's the end of the year - well, start of the year, whichever way you want to look at it for the PGA Tour. So, for us, we're just out here just talking about, when are you playing next, what are you doing, how is the family doing, what are you doing for Christmas, things like that.

“Just basic stuff. Just small talk. Because we're all friends. No matter what's going on out there, we're all friends and pulling for each other.”