Martin Kaymer is now just one round away from capturing a second Major Championship in four years after continuing to dominate the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst.

Kaymer has withstood everything the field has thrown at the German golfing ace to remain five shots in front despite posting a third round two over par 72.

Martin Kaymer remains in control after three rounds of the U.S. Open. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)

The Dusseldorf player is in complete control as he now looks headed to collect a second Major since capturing the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

And Kaymer’s conscious now of going out on the last day of year’s second Major and seeing how he will react as he also strives to become the first German born winner of a U.S. Open Championship.

“If you lead by three, four, five, six, seven shots, at the end of the day, you have to — the biggest challenge is that you keep going, that you don’t try to defend anything,” he said.

“If you try to defend then you change your game plan and you don’t swing as free as usual.

Martin Kaymer in good spirits after his third round in the 2014 U.S. Open (Photo – Eion Clarke/www.golffile.ie)

“So that would be the biggest challenge tomorrow.

“But it will be very interesting. It will be interesting to see how we are after nine holes, because at the end of the day it comes down to the last five, six holes.

“So it will be nice to see how I will react, if I’m leading by five, six, seven shots, or if I’m down to maybe one or two behind, you know, it’s — everything is still open. Five shots, we could see this morning, I started with three bogeys, so that could be gone quickly.”

The 29-year-old German had played two near-flawless rounds, establishing a U.S. Open 36-hole scoring record (65-65–130) and matching the largest 36-hole lead in championship history (six) before Saturday’s 2-over 72, which included five bogeys, one birdie and an eagle.

Kaymer will tee up in the final round at eight under par, five shots clear of the only two golfers to better par over the 7,422-yard, par-70 layout on a sun-splashed Saturday in the North Carolina Sandhills.

They include American Rickie Fowler and sectional qualifier and fellow American Erik Compton who both carded 67s and stand at three-under 207.

World No. 2 Henrik Stenson (70) and long-hitting Dustin Johnson (70) share fourth at 208, with 2003 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion Brandt Snedeker (72) the only other player in red figures at 209.