Pinehurst, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Martin Kaymer has carded 11 birdies through two rounds and that has helped him take a 6-stroke lead at the halfway point of the 114th U.S. Open Championship.
Kaymer posted his second straight 5-under 65 on Friday and he ended 36 holes at 10-under-par 130 at Pinehurst No. 2.
The German set or tied several records en route to a 6-shot lead. His total of 130 established new 36-hole scoring record at the U.S. Open. Rory McIlory owned the old record of 131, which he set at Congressional in 2011.
Kaymer's 6-shot lead matched the record that Tiger Woods set in 2000 at Pebble Beach and tied by McIlroy in 2011. Kaymer's 6-shot cushion ties the record for all majors in the post-war era. The biggest ever 36-hole lead was nine strokes at the 1934 British Open.
"That was a lot of success so far the last two rounds. I played very solid again, very similar to yesterday," Kaymer said. "The way I play golf right now, it's just really satisfying. It's very solid, not many mistakes, not that many wild tee shots or anything."
Brendon Todd, this year's Byron Nelson champion, carded a bogey-free, 3-under 67 to move into second place at minus-4. Todd is playing in his first major championship.
Brandt Snedeker (68) and Kevin Na (69) are tied for third place a 3-under 137.
Former PGA Champion Keegan Bradley shot 1-under 69 for the second straight day. He shares second place at minus-2 with Dustin Johnson (69), Brooks Koepka (68), Brendon de Jonge (70) and Henrik Stenson (69).
McIlroy and Chris Kirk both shot 2-under 68 on Friday. The were joined in 10th place at minus-1 by Matt Kuchar and Jordan Spieth, who both carded 70s in round two.
Kaymer is looking for his second major championship to go with his victory at the 2010 PGA Championship. Kaymer could also become the first player in PGA Tour history to win the Players Championship and the U.S. Open in the same year.
The German started his second round on the par-5 10th and opened with a birdie on that hole. After a pair of pars, he birdied the 13th from about 20 feet out and came back with another long birdie putt at 16 to move to minus-8.
After four straight pars around the turn, Kaymer drove the green on the par-4 third and 2-putted for birdie. At the par-5 fifth, he kicked in a short birdie try to move to minus-10.
Kaymer got up and down for par on the sixth and seventh, then 2-putted for par on this final two holes to post 130. He has played 29 consecutive holes without a bogey, and has just one bogey through 36 holes.
"I was expecting the golf course to be playing a lot firmer and obviously that rain helped a lot last night and you could still be aggressive today," said Kaymer. "We had perfect greens in the morning, but still you have to hit good shots. Obviously, the record shows that it's very rare that somebody shoots 10-under par after two rounds."
Todd birdied the third and fifth to move to minus-3 overall. He parred seven in a row from the sixth. At the 13th, Todd converted his third birdie of the day to move within four of the lead. He parred out to end there.
"I played pretty solid the first round, only made two bogeys. Today, I hit it even better. Really struck it well there for the first ten holes, making a couple of nice birdies with up-and-downs on three and five," Todd explained. "And then made some nice bunker saves for par on 11, 16 and 17. And got one more birdie there on the back nine on 13. So very happy with my play so far."
World No. 1 Adam Scott rallied with a 3-under 67 to end two rounds at even-par 140. He was joined there by five others, including Ian Poulter (70) and Rickie Fowler (70).
Defending champion Justin Rose (69), Jason Day (68) and Steve Stricker (71) were among seven players at 1-over-par 141. Jimmy Walker (72) and Graeme McDowell (74) finished two rounds at 2-over-par 142.
Jim Furyk (70), Webb Simpson (72) and six-time runner-up Phil Mickelson (73) ended two rounds at plus-3. Two-time U.S. Open winners Ernie Els (70) and Retief Goosen (71) have finished 36 holes at 4-over 144, and they were joined there by Bill Haas (72), Stewart Cink (72) and Louis Oosthuizen (73).
The cut line fell at 5-over 145 with 67 players moving on to the weekend. Among those outside the cut line were former major winners Bubba Watson, Charl Schwartzel, Jason Dufner, Darren Clarke, Angel Cabrera, Geoff Ogilvy and Lucas Glover, as well as Luke Donald, Hunter Mahan, Lee Westwood and Miguel Angel Jimenez.
NOTES: Kaymer's low 36 holes on the PGA Tour before this championship was 132, which he posted en route to winning the Players Championship last month ... Through two rounds, Kaymer has the most birdies (11), was tied for second-most fairways hits (25 of 28) and was tied for the fifth most greens in regulation (26) ... Kaymer, Todd and Day were the only three players with bogey-free rounds on Friday ... Jamie Donaldson and Mahan played the wrong balls on No. 18, their ninth hole of the day, and that led to both players making double- bogey on the hole. Both missed the cut as Mahan ended at plus-6 and Donaldson finished at 11-over 151.
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