Sam Burns tied the record for the lowest round in a men’s major championship after holing out from a bunker on Friday [1].
This achievement marks a rare instance of two golfers matching the historic low-round benchmark within a single tournament. The feat elevates the competitive stakes of the 2026 Open Championship as players contend with the challenging conditions of the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England [2].
Burns finished the second round with a score of 62 [1]. This total is eight-under par [3]. The record-tying moment occurred on the 18th hole, where Burns holed out from the bunker to secure the mark [1].
Earlier in the tournament, Lucas Herbert had already set the pace by recording a 62 [2]. By matching this score, Burns becomes one of the few players to reach this numerical threshold in major championship play. The performance occurred during the second round of the event [2].
Royal Birkdale is known for its rigorous testing of professional golfers, making a score of 62 particularly significant. The precision required to hole out from a bunker on the final hole underscores the high level of execution Burns maintained throughout the day [1].
Burns now joins Herbert in the record books for this specific tournament. Both golfers have demonstrated an ability to navigate the course with historic efficiency, putting pressure on the rest of the field as the championship progresses [2].
“Sam Burns tied the record for the lowest round in a men’s major championship”
Matching the major low-round record of 62 at a venue as prestigious as Royal Birkdale indicates an exceptional level of form and mental fortitude. Because two players achieved this mark in the same event, it suggests that while the course is challenging, the current field is capable of historic scoring, potentially shifting the strategic approach for the remaining rounds of the championship.
