Herbert, Burns Match Major Record 62 at Open as Herbert Takes 2-Shot Lead

Q: Can underdog Lucas Herbert convert his historic round into a career-defining victory?

Yes — Herbert has given himself a real chance, but converting it into a win will still require two more elite rounds under major pressure. The evidence in his favor is strong. His 62 at Royal Birkdale matched the lowest round ever recorded in a men’s major, and he did it on a course with deep Open history. He also tied the Open’s nine-hole record with a 28 on the front side and moved to 8-under, two shots clear after 36 holes. In a championship where position matters, that is a significant advantage. He also arrives with some recent proof he can finish. Herbert won LIV Golf Virginia this season, showing he can protect a lead and handle late pressure. That matters because his profile in majors has been modest: he is ranked No. 97, has limited Open success, and missed the cut at the recent U.S. Open. This is still unfamiliar territory compared with proven contenders. The biggest question is sustainability. Friday’s scoring came in unusually calm, fast, dry conditions, and Royal Birkdale is expected to become a sterner test over the weekend. Herbert’s bogey at the 18th after reaching 9-under in the round was also a reminder of how quickly momentum can shift on links golf’s toughest holes. He is well placed, but far from safe. With Sam Burns, Cameron Young, Sungjae Im and others close behind — and with Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy still around — Herbert has turned himself from underdog into legitimate contender. Now he must prove he can do it when the pressure is highest.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jul 17

Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns both shot 8-under 62 at Royal Birkdale on Friday, tying the major championship scoring record and putting Herbert atop the Open Championship leaderboard.
Herbert reached 9 under for the round but bogeyed the par-4 18th after a sliced drive and a missed 5-foot par putt, while Burns finished birdie-birdie-birdie and holed out from a greenside bunker on 18.
At 8 under overall after 36 holes, Herbert led Jackson Suber by 2 strokes after Suber shot 69 to reach 6 under.
Fast, dry conditions and no wind helped scoring, though the 18th still played as Royal Birkdale's toughest hole.
The 62 matched a mark previously reached five times in majors, including Branden Grace at the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale and Xander Schauffele and Shane Lowry at the 2024 PGA Championship.