Kaymer roars to four-stroke lead at US Open
De Jonge, Quinn in second place at three-under.
Martin Kaymer of Germany putts on the fifth hole during the second round of the 114th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, Course No. 2 on June 13, 2014 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. PHOTO: AFP
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 14th, 2014.
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 14th, 2014.