Lucas Herbert missed a chance to record the lowest round in men’s major history after bogeying the 18th hole on Friday [1].
The near-record performance highlights the razor-thin margins of professional golf, where a single stroke can separate a historic milestone from a standard great round.
Herbert, 30, was competing in the second round of the 154th Open Championship [4, 5]. The tournament is being held at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England [1]. Throughout the day, the Australian professional golfer positioned himself to post a score of 61, which would have set a new benchmark for the lowest round ever recorded in a men's major [2].
That ambition vanished on the final hole. Herbert faced a five-foot putt on the 18th hole [3]. The ball rolled wide, resulting in a bogey [1]. This late error forced him to finish the round with a 62 [1].
Despite the missed opportunity for a 61, the 62 remains a blistering score for a major championship. The result tied two major records for the lowest round in a single day [2].
Herbert reflected on the missed opportunity following the round. "Might've been one of the best chances we've ever had," Herbert said [2].
The 2026 Open continues at Royal Birkdale, with the field navigating the challenging coastal links of the Southport course [1, 6].
“Might've been one of the best chances we've ever had”
While Herbert did not achieve the historic 61, tying two major records with a 62 places him in an elite tier of scoring efficiency. In the context of the 154th Open, this performance establishes him as a primary contender, though the missed putt on the 18th serves as a reminder of the mental and technical volatility inherent in major championship play.
