Australian professional golfer Lucas Herbert shot an 8-under-par 62 during the second round of The Open Championship on Friday [1].
The performance represents a historic tie for the lowest score ever recorded in a major championship round. While the feat places Herbert in the record books, it also highlights how narrowly he missed claiming the record exclusively.
Playing at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England, Herbert maintained a blistering pace throughout the day [1]. He carded a 28 on the front nine, which marks the lowest nine-hole score at The Open since 1983 [3]. This aggressive start positioned him to potentially break the all-time scoring mark for a major.
Herbert came within a single stroke of sole ownership of the record on the 18th hole. He missed a five-foot par putt that would have resulted in a 61 [1]. Despite the miss, the 62 remains tied for the lowest round in major-championship history [1].
"I’m absolutely disappointed, but proud," Herbert said after finishing his round [4].
The day was marked by a rare occurrence of two players matching the record in a single event. Sam Burns also shot a 62 during the same round [2]. The timing of the two historic scores was nearly simultaneous.
"Only 22 minutes separated our 62s," Burns said [2].
The 2026 Open Championship continues at Royal Birkdale, where Herbert's second-round surge has shifted the leaderboard dynamics heading into the weekend.
“"I’m absolutely disappointed, but proud,"”
Matching a major-round record is a rare feat, but doing so alongside another player in the same tournament is nearly unprecedented. Herbert's 28 on the front nine suggests a level of precision and aggression that can disrupt the typical conservative play associated with links golf, potentially signaling a shift in how players approach the Royal Birkdale course.
