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What sort of animal is the redesigned Pinehurst? A tameable beast or one which looks like a pussycat but bites like a Jaguar? If the day's early scores are anything to go by, Pinehurst has been transformed into a dangerous and hungry predator.

"This place is regarded as America's St Andrews and the jewel in the design legacy of legendary Scottish architect Donald Ross," says BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter.

"Miss the short stuff and you are in all sorts of scrub. Some lies will be unplayable, others will offer the chance to advance the ball to the green. One player described it as "a links course among the trees" and he wasn't wrong."

Straight down the middle from Rory McIlroy on the first tee, and the Northern Irishman's approach shot safely sees him onto the green.

A collective cheer around the 15th green as Ernie Els sinks his putt for a birdie on the par three hole. Four birdies so far for the Big Easy, who is +4 for the tournament, but he's also made four bogeys. It's a game of checks and balances.

While amateur Matthew Fitzpatrick adds his signature to a spectator's baseball cap, Graeme McDowell has played his way into trouble. The former champion's ball has already been nestling in some scrubland and a bunker on the eighth. It could be a third successive bogey for the Northern Irishman or, indeed, worse.

For those of you interested in such things, Rory McIlroy is wearing a black top with a canary yellow trim. It's not an eye-catching outfit so let's hope his driving and putting attracts some attention instead.

The two-time major winner, nine shots adrift of leader Martin Kaymer, is on course in the next few minutes and has been practising on the putting green. (Looks like you missed a few, Rory.)

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Leader Martin Kaymer says he will not change his strategy as he closes in on a second major. Asked what he has achieved with two 65 rounds, the German says "not much".

"I'm trying to stay away from all the talk," he adds. "Even when I watched golf last night I put it on mute so I could not hear what they were saying.

"The golf course is going to get very difficult. I can always shoot four, five over par and some players go a couple of under."

John McEnerney, external: Moving day separates the contenders from the rest. Expect the usual suspects to do their thing! Stenson to put in a big round!

Paul Casey can watch England's World Cup ding-dong with Italy knowing that the stresses and strains of doing so won't affect his challenge at Pinehurst. The Englishman is +9 overall after negotiating the third round in 74 shots.

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His compatriot Matthew Fitzpatrick has also finished his third round and is tied for 62nd place on +12 after a tortuous eight-over-78.

Ian Poulter, external: Wishing my son Luke a great day playing his tournament today. Hope it's a great day for both Poulters.

Graeme McDowell, external: Moving day here at the US Open but looking at the pin positions level par makes a move today. #patience #grindmode

A heap of men are back in the clubhouse and poor Toru Taniguchi has ended his day with an ugly-looking scorecard, packed with bogeys and double bogeys. He closed his round with bogeys on the 17th and 18th to card an 18-over 88 for a +23 overall score.

Only once in the last 13 years has a US Open been won with a score of better than 10 under par. Rory McIlroy tore up Congressional in 2011 to card -16, so Martin Kaymer's display in North Carolina is very much against the tournament's convention.

The German has more birdies than anyone this week (11), just one bogey and sits joint-top of fairways in regulation standings - landing safely on 25 of 28.

He even found the bunker three times on round two and escaped without dropping a shot on each occasion.

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India's Shiv Kapur can start wiggling his hips to a song called the birdie blitz (it's an upbeat little number). The 32-year-old has bounced back from a brace of bogeys by scribbling four birdies on his card before the turn. He is currently one-over for the tournament and the only player on the course under par for the day.

It might come as some consolation to the field that the biggest comeback after 36 holes to win the US Open is 11 shots. That was achieved by American Lou Graham, who ended up beating John Mehaffey in an 18-hole Monday play-off to win at Medinah in 1975.

By that measure, anyone at one over and in a tie for 20th this morning still has a chance.

Phil Mickelson won't be a bridesmaid at this US Open but at least the six-time runner-up gives his spectators something to cheer. The American escaped the sand on the ninth, sunk his putt for a par and is out in 35.

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Teenager Matthew Fitzpatrick impressed on the opening day at Pinehurst but is struggling at the moment. This will be the 19-year-old's final tournament as an amateur and he has had to endure a hat-trick of bogeys between the 14th and 16th. The Englishman is +13 for the tournament.

Sweden's Henrik Stenson says he will doff his cap to Martin Kaymer if the leader continues to tame Pinehurst.

"It is a tricky situation," says Stenson, who is two under overall and four shots better off at the halfway point than he has ever been at US Open.

"It's still early and a lot can happen but I guess I'll start as I have on the first couple of days and we'll see what Martin [Kaymer] does. If he keeps going, we will have to take our hats off and shake his hand in a couple of days but, if he doesn't, it's up to us to stick around."

Andrew Priestley, external: Martin Kaymer hasn't put a foot wrong so far this week, but it will be interesting to see how he reacts to any adversity today.

Solid from Graeme McDowell as be birdies the par-four fourth, while American Patrick Reed, +2 overall, has gone one better, enjoying an eagle on the par-five fifth. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy looks relaxed on the practice ground. He tees off at 19:30 BST.

No-one likes it when they have to travel on board the bogey train and world number one Adam Scott, who is 10 shots adrift of the lead, is no different.

The Australian says: "I'm feeling pretty good overall. It's going to be a test, it's hot today and I'm sure it's fiery. If I can limit the mistakes, maybe I can claw myself into this thing.

"I really have to eliminate some mistakes and play some solid golf. As we've seen, it's a US Open and if you get on the bogey train, it can be hard to get off."

Sergio Garcia's card for the day now reads three birdies, three bogeys after the Spaniard lips out a five footer on 13. It's a waste by Garcia, who on four over, is tied for 33rd. Fifteen years as a professional and not a major to his name. Oh, Sergio.

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Justin, Justin, Justin. Defending champion Rose opens with a bogey five on the first hole and might have to spend the rest of the round burrowing his way out of a tunnel with a spoon.