Kaymer roars to four-stroke lead at US Open

De Jonge, Quinn in second place at three-under.

PINEHURST: Germany’s Martin Kaymer opened Friday’s second round of the US Open with birdies on two of his first four holes, stretching his lead to four strokes at rain-slowed Pinehurst.

Cool, overcast conditions and overnight rain helped the 2010 PGA Championship winner and other morning starters find softened landing spots on the layout’s notorious turtle-backed greens.

Kaymer birdied three of the last five holes Thursday to shoot a five-under par 65, the lowest US Open round ever at Pinehurst, and led by three as the day began.

Kaymer, a former world number one who slid from the top 60 in world rankings, found a bunker off the tee at 14 but sank a 12-foot par putt to keep his four-stroke edge.

Sharing second on three-under were Zimbabwe’s Brendon de Jonge and 49-year-old US journeyman Fran Quinn with afternoon starters Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland and American Kevin Na sharing fourth on two-under after 68s Thursday.

Among a pack on one-under were Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson.

Reigning British Open champion Phil Mickelson was on level-par 70.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2014.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.