Sam Burns and Lucas Herbert each shot 62 during the second round of the 2026 Open Championship [1].
The performance marks a rare feat in professional golf, as both players tied the lowest scoring round ever recorded in a major championship [2].
The record-tying rounds occurred at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England [1]. The score of 62 matches the benchmark first established by Branden Grace in 2017 [2].
Burns and Herbert maintained high levels of precision throughout the day to reach the mark. The achievement highlights the aggressive play and accuracy required to navigate the challenging links of Royal Birkdale [1].
Major championships typically feature more difficult course setups than standard tour events, making a sub-63 round an exceptional occurrence. By matching the scoring record, both players have positioned themselves as primary contenders heading into the later stages of the tournament [2].
Grace's 2017 round had stood as the sole record for nine years before this week's events [2]. The simultaneous achievement by two different players in a single round adds a unique layer to the history of the Open Championship [1].
“Both players shot a 62 in round 2, tying the major-championship scoring record”
The simultaneous tying of a major scoring record by two players suggests a combination of peak individual form and specific course conditions at Royal Birkdale that allowed for historic scoring. Because major championships are designed to test the limits of a golfer's game, these rounds shift the leaderboard dynamics and put immense pressure on the rest of the field to maintain an aggressive pace to remain competitive.
