Martin Kaymer of Germany posted a second consecutive 5-under-par 65 and set the 36-hole U.S. Open scoring record while taking a six-stroke lead over Brendon Todd at Pinehurst No. 2 in Pinehurst, N.C.
Kaymer, the 2010 PGA champion, was at 10-under 130, breaking the record of 11-under 131 set by Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland on his way to an eight-stroke victory at Congressional in 2011.
“I just played very solid golf,” said Kaymer, who won the Players Championship last month. “I didn’t make a bogey, made only one yesterday, so that was nice. I didn’t miss very many fairways and greens, but I struggled a little bit coming in on the last few holes, but made a couple of nice up-and-downs. I really didn’t make any mistakes.
“(Six) shots is a lot, but we will see. The third and fourth rounds of a major don’t get any easier. It’s not over by any means. You have to approach Saturday and Sunday the same way. You can’t relax until you raise the trophy on Sunday.”
The 28-year-old Todd, who won two North Carolina high school championships at nearby Green Hope High in Cary, N.C., followed a 69 with a bogey-free 67.
Brandt Snedeker stumbled only with a double-bogey 6 on the 11th hole while shooting 68 and was seven strokes back in a tie for third with Kevin Na, who had a bogey on the last hole to finish at 69.
Keegan Bradley, the 2011 PGA champion, recorded a second straight 69 and was eight strokes behind in a tie for fifth with Dustin Johnson, who also had a second 69, Henrik Stenson of Sweden, another player who has started 69-69, Brooks Koepka, who shot 68, and Brendon De Jonge of South Africa, who came in at 70.
McIlroy, one of the pre-tournament favorites, was tied for 10th after a 68, top-ranked Adam Scott of Australia was tied for 14th followed a 67, and defending champion Justin Rose was tied for 27th after a 69.
Phil Mickelson, trying to complete the Career Grand Slam, carded birdies on two of his first three holes but none the rest of the way, and was tied for 33rd after a 73.
Masters champion Bubba Watson shot 76-70–146 to miss the cut by one stroke, and PGA champion Jason Dufner totaled 72-74–146 and also missed the weekend by one shot.
