Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns delivered extraordinary performances on Friday at Royal Birkdale, each carding a sensational 62 to equal the men's major championship scoring record. The remarkable rounds have propelled both golfers up the leaderboard, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to The Open this weekend.
Australia's Lucas Herbert appeared poised to set a new record outright, reaching nine-under par through 16 holes. However, a missed five-foot par putt on the challenging 18th meant he had to settle for a share of the record. Speaking after his round, Herbert acknowledged the mixed emotions, stating, "The nerves were going, but I thought I handled it well. It wasn’t meant to be. So it was a strange one, knocking that in and knowing I tied the record, but feeling like it might be one of the best chances we’ve ever had to shoot a 61."
Just two groups later, American Sam Burns completed his own historic round with a dramatic finish. Burns, whose participation at The Open was made possible by the earlier-than-anticipated birth of his second child, holed a 40-foot birdie putt on the 16th, followed by a 20-foot birdie on the 17th. He then spectacularly holed out from a greenside bunker on the 18th for his 62, marking the first birdie on that hole all day.
The 62-stroke record was first established by South Africa's Branden Grace in 2017, also at Royal Birkdale. Since then, the score has been matched four times across two other major championships, including notable dual achievements such as Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele at the 2023 US Open, and Schauffele and Shane Lowry at the PGA Championship the following year. These feats follow Haeran Ryu’s women’s major record of 60 at the Evian Championship in France last week.
Burns has enjoyed a strong season leading up to The Open, securing a seventh-place finish at the Masters and a runner-up spot at the US Open. Both Herbert and Burns will now be aiming to capitalise on their record-equalling rounds and secure their maiden major championship titles as the tournament progresses into the weekend.