Golf

Kaymer picks up where he left off at US Open

Overnight leader moves to seven under at Pinehurst early in his second round

Martin Kaymer lines up a putt on the 11th hole during the second round of the US Open. Photograph: EPA
Martin Kaymer lines up a putt on the 11th hole during the second round of the US Open. Photograph: EPA
Fri Jun 13 2014 - 14:53

Martin Kaymer carried on where he left off in the first round when the 114th US Open resumed at Pinehurst this morning.

Kaymer's opening 65 was the lowest score ever in the US Open at Pinehurst, eclipsing the 66 recorded by Sweden's Peter Hedblom in 2005 and giving him a three-shot lead over the chasing pack.

The 29-year-old German fired one bogey and six birdies and picked up another birdie on his opening hole today, holing from six feet on the par-five 10th.

Kaymer missed from 12 feet for birdie on the 12th but quickly made amends, holing from twice the distance on the next to move to seven under, four clear of Brendon De Jonge and American journeyman Fran Quinn.

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Asked on Wednesday what score he would be happy with after four rounds, former world number one Kaymer had said eight over par. But with tournament officials electing to water the greens on Wednesday evening and more than half an inch of rain falling on Thursday night, scoring conditions were again perfect for the early starters.

A total of 35 players had shot par or better on the opening day, including Sweden's Henrik Stenson, who finished one under and can overtake Adam Scott as world number one with a victory on Sunday.

England's Paul Casey returned a 70 on Thursday and remained level par after following a birdie on the first with a bogey on the second.

Shane Lowry and Darren Clarke were both among the early starters this morning, with Lowry remaining on three over as he approached the turn while Clarke looks set to miss the cut as he dropped to seven over after six holes.