Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns Tie Major Record with 62s at Royal Birkdale

The 2026 Open Championship was supposed to be a grueling test of survival at a burned-out Royal Birkdale. Instead, Friday turned into a historic birdie-fest that completely scrambled the weekend betting board. Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns both fired 8-under 62s during the second round, tying the record for the lowest single-round score in men's major championship history. They join an elite group of just seven players to ever post a 62 in a major, with Branden Grace having set the original mark at this exact same venue nine years ago. Herbert's Historic Front Nine Herbert, the 30-year-old Australian, came agonizingly close to breaking the record outright. He went out in a blistering 6-under 28 on the front nine—tying the lowest nine-hole score in Open Championship history. Sitting at 8-under for his round on the 18th green, Herbert faced a five-foot par putt that would have secured the first-ever 61 in major history. He pulled the putt, settling for a 62, but still grabbed the clubhouse lead at 8-under par overall. Burns Chips In for 62 Just 20 minutes later, Sam Burns matched the feat. After opening with a 73 on Thursday, Burns caught fire on Friday and capped his historic round by holing out for birdie on the 18th. The performance is even more remarkable considering Burns almost skipped the tournament entirely after his second child was born a week early, forcing him to make a late pivot to travel to England. Heading into the weekend, Herbert holds the lead, with first-round leader Jackson Suber and Cameron Young lurking two shots back at 6-under. Burns sits at 5-under, while defending champion Scottie Scheffler remains dangerous after grinding through the afternoon wave. The SBA Takeaway The live outright market is going to overreact to these 62s, but bettors should proceed with caution. Royal Birkdale showed its teeth in the afternoon winds, and relying on historic putting performances to carry over into the weekend is a risky proposition. Look for the elite ball-strikers like Cameron Young and Scottie Scheffler to steadily close the gap on moving day. If you can find plus-money on Scheffler for a top-five finish, take it before the window closes. Related Reading: - 2026 Open Championship Betting Preview: Royal Birkdale Awaits - Open Championship Round 1: Scheffler Lurks While Birkdale Bakes - Wyndham Clark Sets Shinnecock Record With Opening 64 at U.S. Open