Herbert ties major record with 62 to lead the Open

Lucas Herbert matched the lowest score in men's major championship history on Friday, firing an 8-under 62 in the second round of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale to surge to the top of the leaderboard.theopen+2

A Historic Front Nine

The 30-year-old Australian caught fire from the opening hole, birdieing his first three before adding three more over the remainder of the front nine to post a 6-under 28. That nine-hole total ties Denis Durnian's mark for the lowest in Open Championship history, set in a tournament that dates to 1860. Herbert added further birdies at the 11th, 12th, and 16th holes to reach nine under for his round before a missed 5-foot par putt on the 18th denied him the outright record.sports.yahoo+2

Burns Matches the Feat

Herbert's 62 did not stand alone for long. Two groups later, American Sam Burns produced an astonishing birdie-birdie-birdie finish, holing out from a greenside bunker on the 18th to also card a 62. The record was first set by Branden Grace in 2017 — also at Royal Birkdale — and has now been matched a total of six times across men's majors.thegolfnewsnet+2

Weekend Outlook

Herbert's round moved him to nine under for the championship, three clear of the field with play still ongoing on Friday. Burns's round lifted him to five under, alongside Sungjae Im and Cameron Young, while first-round leader Jackson Suber sat at six under after a second-round 69. The weekend at Royal Birkdale now sets up a chase, with Herbert holding a commanding position after one of the most remarkable rounds the 166-year-old championship has produced.golfweek.usatoday+1