Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns each shot an eight-under 62 during the second round of the 2026 Open Championship [1].
The simultaneous achievement marks a rare moment in professional golf where two players matched the lowest single-round score ever recorded in a men's major championship [2]. This performance at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club underscores a high level of precision and aggression from both competitors during the tournament's early stages.
Herbert, representing Australia, and Burns, from the U.S., navigated the course with nearly identical efficiency to reach the mark of 62 [1]. This score of eight-under par stands as the gold standard for single-round play in the history of men's major tournaments [1].
While the numerical results were identical, the players displayed different reactions to their historic rounds. The achievement places both men in an elite group of golfers who have managed to conquer a major championship course with such efficiency that they equaled the all-time record [2].
Royal Birkdale is known for its challenging links terrain, which typically resists such low scoring. The fact that two players achieved the record-low round in the same tournament suggests a combination of optimal conditions and exceptional form [2].
Both golfers now enter the subsequent rounds of the 2026 championship with significant momentum. Their ability to maintain such a high standard of play puts them in a strong position to challenge for the title as the competition progresses through the final stages at Royal Birkdale [1].
“Both shot an eight-under 62, equalling the lowest round ever recorded in a men’s major championship”
Matching the lowest round in major history is a statistical anomaly that highlights the increasing scoring potential of modern professional golfers. When two players achieve this feat in a single tournament, it suggests that the course setup at Royal Birkdale for the 2026 Open allowed for an aggressive approach that historically rarely results in such low numbers.
