Kaymer Running Away with U.S. Open


Though there are still plenty of holes left in the second round, the field in the 114th U.S. Open will have some major catching up to do as 18-hole leader Martin Kaymer followed up a 5-under 65 with the exact same score Friday at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina.

After posting six birdies and a bogey Thursday, the 29-year-old from Dusseldorf, Germany, was flawless the following day with five birdies and 13 pars to reach 10-under 130. Kaymer's 36-hole total is the best halfway mark in U.S. Open history, edging the previous record of 11-under 131 set by Rory McIlroy in 2011 at par-71 Congressional.

Though Kaymer is way ahead, the 2010 PGA champion cautioned that there's plenty of golf yet to play. "It's not a done deal," he told reporters. "You don't approach Saturday and Sunday in a relaxed way. There's never a time where you can relax. Unless it's Sunday afternoon and you're raising the trophy, then you can relax. Until then, you've got to keep playing."

Kaymer's game has been on the rise ever since he won the Players Championship last month for his first victory since the Nedbank Golf Challenge on South Africa's Sunshine Tour in December 2012.

The long drought has been worth it though. "It's very, very satisfying," Kaymer said of his recent play. "There were a couple of shots today; I was surprised at how good they were. I'm just hitting the ball very solid right now."

Though 10 strokes back of Kaymer, No. 1-ranked Adam Scott - who followed up a 73 with a fine 67 Friday - is impressed with the German. "It's great golf for Martin," the Aussie said. "When you're playing like that, you want to just keep it going. For him to come out today and back it up is super. If he does it for two more days, then we're all playing for second spot."

For updated scoring, visit http://www.usopen.com/en_US/scoring/index.html.

After signing his scorecard, Kaymer met with reporters and discussed his first two rounds. Here's what he had to say.

Q. Historic 36 holes at a U.S. Open. Talk about your position and how you've been able to score so low?

MARTIN KAYMER: Again, I didn't make many mistakes today. I got a little tight the last three or four holes, but I made good up-and-downs, especially on 6 and 7. I hit enough fairways, enough greens, gave myself a few chances, made a couple longer putts today on 16 and then another one earlier. So I just, again, I didn't make many mistakes and it was nice that I never really got into some difficult positions from the rough.

Q. What did you do to your wrist and how is it now?

MARTIN KAYMER: It's nothing, I just played too much golf.

Q. You're trying to do something that nobody has ever done before, shooting two 65s in the first two rounds of the U.S. Open or any major championship. Nobody's ever done that. How would you describe that?

MARTIN KAYMER: Somebody has to do it at one stage. It will happen at one stage. I think that obviously you need to play very solid and you need a little bit of luck here and there, and that was on my side so far. It's quite nice, I'm enjoying it, and yeah, that's it.

Q. Is that the best golf you've ever played for two days?

MARTIN KAYMER: I played very well, I had some good rounds in the past as well. But yesterday and today, especially today, the way I worked my way around the course, it was quite - I hit some smart shots, I didn't play too aggressive and when I had a good number, I went for the flag and I didn't make many mistakes on the greens. I didn't three putt, I made a lot of good putts today and yesterday.

Q. How good does it feel to be back to where you have been, the confidence and the game? You played at the top level and here you are playing better than anybody in the world right now.

MARTIN KAYMER: Yeah, it's just very, very satisfying. I said to my caddie as well, there were a couple of shots today that I was surprised how good they were. Because I was not expecting to hit it that close, because it was a tough pin and all of a sudden you end up with a very good birdie chance and you would have taken four from the fairway. So I'm just hitting the ball very solid right now and I think it's important to keep going and not try to relax. And there's still a lot of stuff to improve on, but the way I played now is quite nice.

Q. How does this affect your game plan for the weekend?

MARTIN KAYMER: I would like to see it as tough as possible. I was always a fan of a golf course where you need to hit good golf shots and not really have a putting competition.

The transcript for the above interview is courtesy of ASAP Sports.