Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns Equal Record 62s at The Open

New Delhi, India Jul 17, 2026 ALN: In the space of about 20 minutes, two players added to men's major history at Royal Birkdale - but the reactions on the 18th green could not have been more contrasting.

When Australia's Lucas Herbert missed a five-foot par putt on the last, there was a grimace from him and a groan from the galleries. The bogey meant he had missed a golden chance to become the first man to shoot 61 at one of 's blue-riband events. Shortly afterwards, Sam Burns of the United States chipped in from a greenside bunker to also record an eight-under-par round of 62. Burns punched the air as a rapturous roar - which ripped across the course - reverberated in his ears. His brilliant birdie meant he matched Herbert's score as the pair became only the sixth and seventh men to shoot 62 at a major.

"I've got a lot of emotions, whether it's relief or pride, or disappointment," Herbert told BBC Radio 5 Live. "But I'm in a great position going into the weekend and got my name in the record books. There are a lot of things to be proud of and when the dust settles that's what I'll focus on the most." Herbert and Burns joined South Africa's Branden Grace as the only players to shoot a 62 at The Open, which also came at Royal Birkdale in 2017. This historical context adds significance to their achievement, as it illustrates how rare such low scores are in the high-stakes environment of major championships.

Herbert, a self-confessed "nerd," knew how close he was to history and despondently stooped down with his hands on his knees after missing the putt. However, he quickly assessed the bigger picture and took solace from the fact he set the clubhouse lead at eight under par. Burns is three shots behind on five under after starting at three over par on Friday, with overnight leader Jackson Suber, who followed his opening 65 with a 69, sandwiched between them on six under. The different journeys taken by Herbert and Burns to the same record-equalling destination were further underlined when the 29-year-old American spoke to the media shortly afterwards. "I didn't know 62 was the record. I had no idea," said Burns, highlighting the contrasting mental states of the two players during their rounds.

Herbert tried to 'stay present' with history beckoning

Herbert needed a par on the 18th to create history, but the final hole has statistically been playing the hardest on the course in round two. Pushing his tee-shot well right of the fairway - flirting with out of bounds - was not a great start, and he needed a penalty-free drop after his ball nestled close to the fence separating the fairway from the spectators. With a large posse of reporters, broadcasters, and cameras behind him, Herbert chopped out of the long, wispy fescue with an approach short of the green and putted from beneath the hole with his third stroke. After tugging his short shot at history left of the hole, Herbert bent over in disappointment before composing himself to tap in. The finish may have been unfulfilling, but that should not cloud what was a splendid performance. Herbert's ability to stay focused under the pressure of potential history is commendable, especially given the high expectations surrounding the final hole.

Asked if he realized on the course that he had the opportunity to create history, Herbert, who plays on the LIV circuit and won his first tournament in May, said: "Nobody was telling me but I definitely knew. I did a great job of staying present and not thinking about the records. I needed to take care of what I was doing and I did a pretty good job of that." The mental aspect of is often overlooked, but Herbert's admission underscores the psychological challenges players face when on the cusp of breaking records. The lowest score in any major was recorded by South Korea's Haeran Ryu, who shot an 11-under-par 60 on her way to winning the Evian Championship earlier this month, further emphasizing the exceptional nature of Herbert's and Burns' rounds.

Burns thought he had 'zero per cent' of playing at Birkdale

Burns' achievement is made even more remarkable by the fact he was not even planning to play at Birkdale this year. The world number 18 anticipated the US Open at Shinnecock Hills would be his final major of the year, with his wife Caroline expecting their second child on July 14. However, their baby girl Belle arrived almost a fortnight early, and the family decided Burns should head to Merseyside. "I thought there was zero per cent chance of playing," Burns said. "My agent said 'I'm going to sign you up just in case,' but I thought I was probably not going to be able to play. Then we ended up having her on July 3. Even then, I still wasn't expecting to play by any means. I had a bunch of conversations with my wife, and she encouraged me to come over and play, and here we are." This unexpected turn of events adds a layer of emotional depth to Burns' performance, as he balanced the joys of fatherhood with the pressures of competing at a major championship.

Who else is in the 62 club?

For years, trying to break 63 in a men's major was the ultimate record. Grace holed eight birdies in a bogey-free third round at Birkdale, beating a previous best score of 63 which had been recorded 31 times. Since then, there have been six more 62s - and they have all come in twos. In 2023, Rickie Fowler shot 62 at the US Open at Los Angeles Country Club - and Xander Schauffele followed him just half an hour later. A year later, Schauffele shot his second 62 in the first round of the 2024 US PGA Championship at Valhalla, with Ireland's Shane Lowry adding another in round three. Now Herbert and Burns have come up with another record-equalling pair on the Southport links. The trend of multiple players achieving such low scores in the same tournament may suggest that the conditions of the courses or the advancements in players' skills could be contributing factors. As the game evolves, it will be interesting to see if these scores become more common or remain exceptional moments in the history of .

The significance of their achievements extends beyond just numbers on a scorecard. It reflects the growth of the , the increasing competitiveness among players, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that defines professional today. Both Herbert and Burns have demonstrated that with preparation, focus, and a bit of luck, breaking barriers in is not just a dream but a tangible reality. Their performances at Royal Birkdale will undoubtedly inspire future generations of ers to aspire for greatness, reminding them that history is often made in the most unexpected of circumstances.