Herbert and Burns Share 62 Milestone at Royal Birkdale

Herbert’s Near Miss and Historic Pursuit

Lucas Herbert stood on the brink of golf history, needing only a five‑foot par on the 18th to become the first man to card a 61 in a major. The final hole, statistically the hardest on the course, proved too much as his tee shot drifted right of the fairway and a penalty drop became necessary. After a spectacular third‑round performance, a missed putt left him stooped in disappointment, yet he later reflected on staying present amid the record‑making opportunity.

Herbert, a self‑identified “golf nerd,” later told BBC Radio 5 Live that the moment brought a mix of relief, pride, and disappointment. He emphasized focusing on the round rather than the record, noting, “I did a great job of staying present and not thinking about the records.” Although the finish was unfulfilling, his eight‑under‑par total left him well positioned for the weekend and added his name to the historic list.

Burns’ Surprise Return and 62 Feat

Sam Burns arrived at Royal Birkdale almost by accident after his wife’s early delivery left the family scrambling for plans. The world‑ranked player once thought his chances of playing were “zero per cent” and only joined the field after encouragement from his wife. On the course he seized a greenside bunker with a chip that landed just short of the hole, prompting a roar that echoed across the course.

Burns later admitted he had “no idea” that a 62 was already a celebrated score, calling his achievement both surprising and gratifying. His eight‑under‑par round matched Herbert’s total, making both men just the sixth and seventh players to post a 62 in a major. The unexpected turnaround highlighted how personal circumstances can intersect with elite performance on the golf course.

The Growing 62 Club at Majors

The “62 club” has expanded slowly since Branden Grace posted an eight‑birdie, bogey‑free round at Royal Birkdale in 2017. Recent years have seen the feat duplicated in pairs: Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele both recorded 62 at the 2023 US Open, while Schauffele and Ireland’s Shane Lowry repeated the trick at the 2024 PGA Championship. Herbert and Burns now join that elite group, becoming the sixth and seventh men to achieve the milestone.

Despite the rarity, the 62 mark follows a trend of improving scoring, underscored by Haeran Ryu’s women’s major record of 60 earlier this season. Each new 62 reshapes the leaderboard and adds pressure on upcoming fields to match the pace. The evolution of scoring distances highlights both advances in course preparation and the rising competitiveness among top golfers.

What This Means for the Rest of the Field

Herbert currently leads the pack at eight under par, with Jackson Suber holding a narrow six‑under foothold after a solid 65‑69 split. Sam Burns sits three shots behind on five under, keeping his playoff hopes alive. The tight scoring suggests the weekend will be a tactical battle, with every birdie and bogey potentially decisive.

The emergence of multiple 62s at a single event underscores how majors are becoming stages for historic individual performances. Fans can expect more players to push the boundaries of scoring, especially as the field continues to evolve with golfers from varied circuits, including the LIV Golf tour. As the leaderboard tightens, the pressure will grow for the rest of the field to match or surpass these remarkable rounds.