For those with vested interests in attracting the big TV audiences to this weekend’s US Open there was presumably a major fear that the World Cup would dampen enthusiasm amidst the wider public for the US Open. To capture the floating voters, on this weekend of all weekends, would be a tough ask. They will now realise the far greater danger to chances of capturing floating voters this weekend was Martin Kaymer.

The German has been in such imperious form over the opening two days at Pinehurst No.2 in North Carolina that he has all but killed off chances of a weekend of drama in deciding the USGA champion. Another 65 on Friday, his second such score of the tournament, made for a record breaking opening 36 holes aggregate of 130. Kaymer now sits comfortably on 10 under par and a 6 shot lead. The German's 8 nearest competitors are squeezed into a 2 shot gap, bunched atop one another, scrambling to eek ahead and maybe catch a glimpse of the vanishing German in the distance.

America’s Brandon Todd is Kaymer’s nearest challenger, on 4 under, while Korea’s Kevin Na and American Brandt Snedeker are another shot back on 23 under.

McIlroy scored 68 yesterday to move to 1 under after 36 holes, while Graeme McDowell's is on 2-over.

Shane Lowry and Darren Clarke both missed the cut.