The Open's second round shifted from positioning to record pressure when Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns both reached 62. Their scores changed the championship's tone and put the rest of the field into a different kind of weekend chase.
Key points
- Associated Press reported Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns each matched the men's major championship record with rounds of 62.
- Herbert had a chance to go lower before a closing bogey, while Burns birdied his final three holes.
- The Open's official site lists The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale from 12 to 19 July.
Two 62s reset the week
Associated Press reported that Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns each shot 62 at Royal Birkdale, matching the men's major championship scoring record. Herbert missed a short par putt at the 18th that would have given him the record outright, while Burns finished with three straight birdies.
The Open's official site lists The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale from 12 to 19 July, with live scoring and championship coverage built around the final major of the season. Friday's scoring surge now gives that coverage a clear weekend storyline.
Low scoring changes the field's decisions
A record-equalling number does not only lift two players. It tells everyone behind them that Royal Birkdale can be attacked in the right conditions, even if the course still punishes loose approaches and poor position.
That can create pressure for contenders who were planning a steadier Friday. When 62 is on the board, a patient 68 may still be solid golf, but it can feel like standing still.
Boda8 analysis
Analysis: The weekend test is whether Herbert and Burns can protect record-day gains after the emotional spike. Major championships often ask a different question after a low round: can a player accept pars again when the previous day made birdies feel available?
For chasing players, the danger is overreacting. Royal Birkdale may have yielded historic scores, but the smarter response is controlled aggression – taking chances from the fairway, not forcing them from the rough.
Sources reviewed
- 01Associated PressLucas Herbert and Sam Burns match the major championship record with 62s at the British Open17 Jul 2026
- 02The OpenThe 154th Open at Royal BirkdaleAccessed 17 Jul 2026