Southport (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Lucas Herbert stormed into the lead at the British Open on Friday after the Australian and American Sam Burns equalled the record for the lowest round in major golf history on Friday with eight-under par 62s.
Issued on: 17/07/2026 - 16:04
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Australia's Lucas Herbert made history for the lowest round in golf major history © Ben STANSALL / AFP
Herbert leads by two shots from overnight leader Jackson Suber, but the world number 97 doubled over his putter in anguish as a short attempt for par on the 18th slipped by with the chance to become the first man to post a major round of 61.Burns followed suit less than an hour later after six birdies on the back nine, including a chip on from the bunker on 18, to move to five under for the tournament.Herbert, who has spent the last two years on the breakaway LIV tour, began the day at level par.Under glorious sunshine in Southport on England's north-west coast, the 30-year-old got off to a flying start with birdies on his opening three holes and added three more at the fifth, seventh and ninth to hit the turn in 28, a British Open record for the front nine.His momentum continued with birdies at the 12th and 13th before a perfect approach set up another three at the par-four 16th for a shot at history.Despite a wayward tee shot at the last, he should still have scrambled for a par but the moment in front of huge crowds seemed to get to Herbert as two tentative putts resulted in his first bogey of the day.
