Rory McIlroy broke a host of records to take a six-shot lead into round three of the US Open at Congressional.
McIlroy, 22, matched the biggest halfway lead in US Open history and posted the lowest 36-hole total with 66, 65 for 131 and 11 under.
He also became the first US Open player ever to reach 13 under but double-bogeyed the last via the water.
YE Yang was his only real rival but could get no closer than six strokes and carded 69 to end five under.
Sergio Garcia (71), Robert Garrigus (70), Brandt Snedeker (70), Zach Johnson (69) and Matt Kuchar (68) all finished two under.
Phil Mickelson bounced back with a 69 to climb to one over alongside Lee Westwood (68), while defending champion Graeme McDowell (74) ended two over and world number one Luke Donald (72) made the cut with no room to spare at four over.
Milestones:
- First man ever to reach -10 in R2
- First player ever to reach -13
- Lowest 36-hole total of 131
- Equals biggest 36-hole lead of six shots set by Tiger Woods in 2000
The year’s second major is traditionally set up to discourage low scoring and only 14 of the 156-man field finished under par on the second longest course in US Open history.
But Northern Ireland’s McIlroy, who led by three shots after an opening 65, produced another Maryland masterclass and was back in the clubhouse with an eight-shot advantage before second-placed man Yang had started his second round.
