Australian golfer Lucas Herbert has equalled the score for the lowest-ever men’s major round as he stunned the field to take the overall lead of the British Open at Royal Birkdale.
The 30-year-old Victorian birdied six of his opening nine holes in the second round to become part of a select group to shoot a 62 in a major.
Herbert began the day at even par and now stands at 8 under, holding a two-stroke lead over first round leader Jackson Suber, of the United States, along with fellow Americans Ryan Gerard and Cameron Young.
Also shooting 62 was American Sam Burns who is in third position at five-under-par, three shots behind Herbert.
Herbert and Burns join Brendan Grace, Rickie Fowler, Shane Lowry and Xander Schauffele (twice) as the only men to score so low in a major.
Herbert had a chance to post a 61, but he bogeyed the par 4 18th hole to finish at eight-under after his even par round of 70 on Thursday.
Australia’s Lucas Herbert acknowledges crowd after shooting a stunning 62 at Royal Birkdale. (Reuters: Phil Noble)
With birdies on the first three holes, Herbert caught fire from the outset to turn in a stunning six-under-par 28 on the front nine.
He tied Englishman Denis Durnian (1983, also on Birkdale’s front nine) for the lowest nine-hole score in Open history.
On the back nine, he picked up further birdies at the 11th, 12th and 16th before a minor blemish to finish his round.
On 18, Herbert’s drive missed right but he placed his approach shot just in front of the green.
He putted onto the surface for his third stroke and left himself 5 feet for par and the record — but his attempt slid left past the cup.
“There’s plenty of anxiety and whatnot with the position that I’m in, and what comes with it, but I didn’t enter this tournament to not experience those feelings,” said Herbert, who walked away from the game three years ago with mental exhaustion while unhappy with how golf was affecting his well-being.
“I think everyone gets anxious. It’s just about dealing with it.
“I didn’t sign up here to come play this tournament stress-free and cruise on through; the thing that makes winning an Open Championship so amazing is the anxiety you’ve got to deal with throughout the entire championship.
“If any player gets up here and says they’re not, they’re lying.”
Herbert joined LIV Golf in 2024 and notched his first win in the league in Virginia in May. But he has not done better than T40 at a major since tying for 15th at the 2022 British Open.
Warm and sunny weather on the Southport course saw Herbert and Burns, and other early starters, take advantage of low-scoring conditions.
Australia’s former Masters champion Adam Scott carded a 66 in the second round to sit six shots off the pace.
Wires/ABC
