Not long after Lucas Herbert finished his second round at The Open Championship with a record-tying 62, Sam Burns joined him in dramatic fashion.
Burns, who opened the tournament by shooting 3-over par on Thursday, booked his spot for the weekend with a 62 of his own. His scoreboard was bogey-free and his back-nine featured six birdies, including one on the 18th hole from a bunker.
Burns and Herbert now join Branden Grace, Rickie Fowler, Shane Lowry, and Xander Schauffele (twice) on the list of lowest single-round scores in men’s major championship history. Six of those seven 62s have come since the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club.
The 2023 U.S. Open, 2024 PGA Championship and now 2026 Open Championship have seen two 62s posted during those tournaments. The 2026 Open Championship joins the 2023 U.S. Open has players tying the mark on the same day.
Burns wasn’t even expecting to be at Royal Birkdale this week. His wife Caroline was expecting their second child with a July 14 due date. He originally planned for last month’s U.S. Open to be his final major of the season. But little Belle was born on July 3, allowing Burns to make the trip to Southport, England to play in his sixth straight Open.
“I don’t know if I could tell you what the difference in 11 shots was,” Burns told USA Network’s Todd Lewis after his round. “I think today I had a lot of things go my way, which is what you need to shoot 62. I feel like I just gave myself a few more chances in the front [nine], then got off to a nice start there in the back nine.”
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