Historic Performance at the Open Championship

For the second consecutive year, a major championship scoring record has become a major storyline at the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Nine years after Branden Grace made history as the first player to shoot a 62 in a major, Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns both joined him in Round 2 of the 2026 Open.

Herbert, an Australian golfer, was in exceptional form, tying the lowest round in major championship history with his 8-under 62. He was 9 under for his round through 17 holes before a bogey on the last dropped him back to the 62 number. Herbert faced a daunting 5-foot par putt on the 18th hole, which he ultimately missed, but his performance was still a historic one.

Burns, on the other hand, finished his round with a flourish, holing out from a greenside bunker on the par-4 18th for a birdie. This incredible finish earned him a place in the history books, tying the lowest men’s major round record held by Branden Grace, Shane Lowry, Xander Schauffele (2x), and Rickie Fowler.

Herbert’s Record-Breaking Performance

Herbert’s 62 was not just a remarkable achievement; it also tied the previous major championship scoring record held by Grace, Lowry, Schauffele, and Fowler. Only Schauffele and Lowry’s 62s did not occur on a par 70 course, as their record-breaking rounds were achieved at Valhalla Golf Club (par 71) in the 2024 PGA Championship.

In addition to tying the lowest round in major championship history, Herbert also shares the lowest nine-hole score in major championship history. He turned in 6 under, which at Royal Birkdale put his nine-hole tally at 28. This mark tied him with Denis Durnian, who also shot a 28 on the front nine in 1983 at Royal Birkdale (previously a par 35). Brad Faxon also carded a 28 on the front nine at Riviera in the 1995 PGA Championship.

Lowest Rounds in Major Championship History

Here are the lowest rounds in major championship history:

• Lucas Herbert – 2026 Open (Round 2) – 62 (-8)
• Shane Lowry – 2024 PGA Championship (Round 3) – 62 (-10)
• Xander Schauffele – 2023 U.S. Open (Round 1) – 62 (-6)
• Rickie Fowler – 2017 Open (Round 3) – 62 (-6)
• Branden Grace – 2017 Open (Round 3) – 62 (-9)

Herbert’s 8-under 62 was an impressive performance, and he moved 38 spots up the leaderboard with his record performance, taking the solo lead by the time he walked off the 18th green. Burns, on the other hand, moved up 103 spots on the leaderboard and is now only three strokes behind Herbert at 5 under.

Burns’ Incredible Comeback

Burns’ 62 was an incredible comeback story, as he came from outside the top 100 to inside the top five. He required only 21 putts on his record day and took care of the difficult 18th in the form of a birdie. Incredibly, Burns hit only seven fairways and 12 greens in regulation in his second round, but it was all that he needed.

For the second straight major championship, the 29-year-old will face a fantastic opportunity to knock off his first major win as he arrived off his runner-up result at last month’s U.S. Open.