Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy holds a six-shot lead at the US Open at Congressional after setting a 36-hole record for the tournament.
The 22-year-old may come to regret a double-bogey on the par-four 18th hole that cost him a chance of extending his already extravagant lead, but he enjoys a comfortable buffer at the midway point of the major on 11-under par in Bethesda, Maryland.
His nearest rival is Korean YE Yang at six under, while a group of five players are tied for third on two under, including world no.6 Matt Kuchar and Spain's Sergio Garcia.
John Senden (72) and Marc Leishman (69) are the best of the Australians, both even with the card in a tie for 15th.
Jason Day (72) is a shot further back after a mixed round which included two birdies but also three bogeys.
No other Aussies made the cut with Scott Hend (78), Adam Scott (73) and Nick O'Hern (70) all finishing one shot over the required mark.
Aaron Baddeley (77) was six over for the day to scupper his chances of weekend action, while Greg Chalmers (73) and Scott Barr (75) were seven and eight over respectively.
Geoff Ogilvy (76) and Robert Allenby (78) never gave themselves a chance to make the cut, both finishing at nine over for their two rounds.
McIlroy began his second round as he finished the first, with early birdies on the fourth and sixth holes giving him the confidence to produce another fantastic round.
But it was at the par-four eighth that McIlroy turned heads, when he produced a terrific eagle to move to 10-under-par overall after eight holes.
McIlroy was a model of consistency as he continued to make par before birdies on holes 14, 16 and 17 took him to a scorching 13-under par.
The jitters were still evident for the world number eight, who will be wary of giving up a lead after he led by four shots heading into the last round of the US Masters in April before shooting a final-round 80.
Yang is closest to the runaway leader, after his two-under-par 69 kept earned him outright second after two rounds.
He made early birdies on holes seven and nine but struggled for consistency on the back nine to remain well behind the leader, but Yang – the 2009 US PGA Championship winner – will be sure to call on his major-winning experience as he looks to chase down McIlroy.
Joining Kuchar and Garcia in the tie for third are Americans Robert Garrigus, Brandt Snedeker, and Zach Johnson.
Kuchar was the most impressive of that group as he hit a three-under 69, only marred by a final-hole bogey, while Johnson produced one of the highlights of the day with an eagle on the par-five sixth.
In a seven-way tie for eighth are Kyung-Tae Kim, Alvaro Quiros, Robert Rock, Heath Slocum, Davis Love III, Ryan Palmer and Brandt Jobe while 2011 US Masters winner Charl Schwartzel is in the next group of players tied for 15th.
World no.2 Lee Westwood shot an improved round of 68 and is tied for 26th with Phil Mickelson (ranked fifth) at one-over-par, while Martin Kaymer (ranked third) and defending champion Graeme McDowell are a further shot back.
With play suspended late in the day, the cut is yet to be determined, but world no.1 Luke Donald will be sweating on the verdict with an overall score of four-over-par after his two rounds, while the likes of Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan, Paul Casey, Ian Poulter and KJ Choi all likely to miss the weekend's action.