With This Absurdly Good First 36 Holes, Martin Kaymer...
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...from the USGA media notes...
- Kaymer’s 36-hole total of 130 is the lowest score for the first 36 holes in a U.S. Open. The previous record was held by Rory McIlroy, who shot 131 in 2011 at Congressional.
- His six-stroke lead tied the largest 36-hole lead in U.S. Open history. Tiger Woods (2000, Pebble Beach) and Rory McIlroy (2011, Congressional) also had six-stroke leads.
- He became the sixth player in U.S. Open history to reach double digits under par. He joins Gil Morgan (1992), Tiger Woods (2000), Jim Furyk (2003), Ricky Barnes (2009) and Rory McIlroy (2011).
- Kaymer joins Rory McIlroy (2011) as the only players to be double digits under par through 36 holes at a U.S. Open.
- He reached double digits under par in 32 holes – the second-fastest in U.S. Open history. Rory McIlroy reached double digits under par in 26 holes in 2011 at Congressional.
- Kaymer is the first player to open a major championship with consecutive rounds of 65 or better.
- He ranks in the top five in all three major statistical categories: Fairways Hit (T-2, 25/28), Greens in Regulation (T-5, 26/36), and Total Putts (T-4, 54).
- Kaymer has held a 36-hole lead on seven occasions. He has gone on to win four times, including the 2014 Players Championship.
Dave Kindred wrote about Kaymer's incredible start and post round comments and surmised...
This U.S. Open is his. Three players ever have led the Open by five shots or more after 36 holes. Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Willie Anderson all won the tournament. Kaymer leads this Open by six shots.
A snippet of Kaymer's post-round comments:
