PINEHURST: Martin Kaymer matched the lowest opening 36 holes in major golf championship history, firing a second consecutive five-under par 65 yesterday to seize an eight-stroke lead at the US Open.
The 29-year-old German posted the lowest 36-hole score in US Open history with a bogey-free round to stand on 10-under par 130 at Pinehurst.
No player in major golf history had ever gone as low as 65 in each of the first two rounds.
“Somebody has to do it at one stage,” Kaymer said. “You need to play very solid and you need a little bit of luck here or there.”
The only other players to score 130 in the first two rounds of a major event were England’s Nick Faldo and American Brandt Snedeker, who each opened on 66 and followed with 64 at the British Open, Faldo in 1992 at Muirfield and Snedeker at Lytham in 2012.
“It’s just very satisfying,” Kaymer said. “The way I worked my way around the course, I hit some smart shots and didn’t play too aggressive. I didn’t make many mistakes.”
Kaymer’s 130 was one stroke below the old 36-hole US Open mark set by Rory McIlroy at Congressional on his way to winning the 2011 title.
“Very solid again,” Kaymer said. “I didn’t make a bogey which is nice. I got tired the last three or four holes but I didn’t make
any mistakes. Didn’t miss many fairways. Didn’t miss many greens.”
Afternoon starters, including reigning British Open champion Phil Mickelson, will make a run at trimming his epic eight-shot edge, which would be the largest 36-hole lead in US Open history if it stands.
Zimbabwe’s Brendon de Jonge and Americans Dustin Johnson, Keegan Bradley and Brooks Koepka shared second in the clubhouse on 138.
“He’s as dialed in as I’ve seen,” said Bradley. “He’s steady and doesn’t seem to get too down. That’s a good combination for a US Open.”
The largest US Open leads after two rounds have been the six-stroke edges enjoyed by Tiger Woods on his way to victory at Pebble Beach in 2000 and McIlroy in 2011.
But Kaymer is far from complacent, aware that difficult conditions are a trademark of US Opens and disaster could lurk over the last two rounds.
“It’s not a done deal,” Kaymer said. “You don’t approach Saturday and Sunday in a relaxed way. On Sunday afternoon
when you lift the trophy you can relax. You have to keep playing well.”
But even world number one Adam Scott, who fired a 67 to stand on level par, 10 strokes adrift, admits overtaking Kaymer will be a difficult task.
“Potentially, he goes out tomorrow and plays better than everyone again and this thing’s over,” Scott said. REUTERS
