The 29-year-old from Düsseldorf, the 2010 US PGA champion who in 2012 sank the putt that retained the Ryder Cup for Europe in Medinah, fired a second straight round of 65 to strengthen his grip on a second Major title. 

At one point Kaymer led by eight shots before home hope Brendon Todd hit a round of 67 to climb to four under par, and narrow the gap by two.

Fellow Americans Kevin Na and Brandt Snedeker hit rounds of 69 and 68 respectively to move to three under, although at this stage it appears only a severe drop in standard will allow the chasing pack to catch the leader.

After starting on the 10th hole, Kaymer hit three birdies on his front nine, including a 25 foot effort on the short 16th, before narrowly missing a 10ft birdie putt for a 64 on the last hole.

But the German resisted any temptation to be complacent and afterwards insisted the result is "not a done deal".

"You don't approach Saturday and Sunday in a relaxed way," he added.

"It's never a time when you can relax, unless it's Sunday afternoon and you are raising the trophy.

"There's never a time you can take it easy, you have to set your own goals and keep playing well."

Home hope Brendon Todd moved into second place with a strong second round of 67
©Getty Images





By reaching the halfway stage in just 130 shots, Kaymer equalled the best 36-hole mark at any Major Championship, held jointly by Nick Faldo in the 1992 British Open at Muirfield and, rather ironically, current rival Snedeker at Royal Lytham in 2012.

He eclipsed the previous US Open record of 131 shots set by Rory McIlroy at the 2011 edition at Congressional Country Club.

On that occasion the Northern Irishman went on to win a maiden Major title by eight shots. 

This time around McIlroy reached halfway one under after a second round of 68, while six-time runner-up Phil Mickelson's pursuit of an elusive US Open appears over after the American could only manage a 73 to slip to three over.

England's defending champion Justin Rose inched to one over after a 69, while Australian world number one Adam Scott made progress with a 67 to move to level par.

World number two Henrik Stenson of Sweden, Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge and Americans Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Keegan Bradley all finished two under.

But among the players to miss the cut, which fell at six over par, were two other Englishmen in former world number ones Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, who could only manage halfway scores of six over and eight over respectively.

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson was another to bow out, after he could only manage six over par.

Action will continue over the weekend with two more rounds before the event, the second Major of the year, concludes on Sunday (June 15).

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