Ryan Fox shot an eight-under 62 in the third round of the 2026 Open Championship to tie the major-round record [1].
The historic score places Fox in a co-leadership position heading into the final round at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England [1, 2].
Fox became only the eighth player in history to post a 62 during a men’s major championship [6]. His performance on Saturday included nine birdies [4] — a result of a deliberate strategy to attack the course.
"I just tried to be aggressive and it paid off," Fox said [7].
The scoring surge at the 154th Open Championship has been unusual for the tournament. Fox was the third player to record a 62 during the week [5].
By tying the lowest round ever recorded in a major, Fox has shifted the momentum of the tournament. The New Zealand professional now enters the final day as a primary contender for the Claret Jug after his surge in the third round [3].
“"I just tried to be aggressive and it paid off,"”
Fox's record-tying round demonstrates a rare combination of aggression and precision on a major championship course. While multiple players shot 62s this week, Fox's ability to convert that score into a co-lead provides him a significant psychological and mathematical advantage entering the final round.
