Lucas Herbert Leads at British Open After Record 62

Herbert Takes Command in Southport

Lucas Herbert sparked a two‑shot advantage at the British Open on Friday, pulling clear after a blistering eight‑under‑par 62 matched the lowest round in major history. The 30‑year‑old, who has spent recent seasons on the breakaway LIV Tour, built his charge with birdies on the first three holes and added three more at the fifth, seventh and ninth to post a front‑nine 28—a new British Open record. He kept the momentum alive with birdies at 12, 13 and a perfect approach for a three at 16, setting up a potential historic 61.

A wayward tee shot on the final hole lured him into a tentative finish, and two hesitant putts turned into a bogey on 18, tempering his celebration. Herbert later reflected on the historic opportunity, noting the weight of chasing a major record and expressing pride in matching it. His round left him comfortably in the lead heading into the weekend.

Burns Joins the 62 Club

Sam Burns arrived less than an hour after Herbert, delivering his own eight‑under 62 to share the record. The world‑18th firepower featured a six‑under 30 on the back nine, highlighted by a 20‑foot birdie at 17 and a clever chip‑in from a greenside bunker at the last. Burns described the finish as a “bonus,” catching himself by surprise as he posted five under for the tournament.

Both players tied the course mark set by Branden Grace in 2017, joining an exclusive list of five majors‑62 rounds. Their combined efforts have elevated the stakes for a weekend that could see multiple golfers chase historic low scores.

DeChambeau’s Penalty Costs a Lead

Bryson DeChambeau briefly closed within a single shot of Herbert before a pair of two‑stroke penalties derailed his momentum. The first came for unintentionally improving his lie, and the second for trampling down grass at the fifth after a lengthy rules discussion. The infractions dropped him out of contention and reshaped the leaderboard dynamics.

DeChambeau’s slip highlighted the relentless scrutiny of the rules at the top level, where a single misstep can erase a hard‑earned advantage. The two‑time U.S. Open champion now trails the lead by several strokes.

Other Notable Scores and Cutline

Cameron Young sits well inside the cut line at six under, joining overnight leader Jackson Suber and Ryan Gerard in the mix for a first major triumph. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler sits four shots back, haunted by missed short putts that might have gifted him the lead. Rory McIlroy recovered from a bogey‑laden opening 72 with a 67, placing him one under and assuring a weekend presence.

Tommy Fleetwood ignited a late surge in his hometown, birdieing three of the final five holes to reach four under. Meanwhile, world‑3 Matt Fitzpatrick and Justin Rose failed to make the cut, ending their British Open campaigns early. The field remains dynamic, with several players still vying for a spot in the weekend’s final rounds.

What This Means for the Championship

Tying the major‑record 62 places both Herbert and Burns on the radar of golf’s historic narratives, echoing the 2017 Birkdale performance by Grace. Their achievement signals that the British Open’s challenging layout can still yield ultra‑low scores under perfect conditions.

Looking ahead, the weekend will test whether the current leaders can hold off challengers hungry for a breakthrough. With a deep field of top‑10 talent still in play, the chase for a first major title—and perhaps a new record—remains wide open.