For the record – three 62’s
With a par at the final hole he had the chance to claim a special place in golfing history all for himself, however despite the bogey on 18, there was still plenty to celebrate when Bendigo boy Lucas Herbert equaled the lowest score ever shot in a major championship with his second round 62.
The eight-under par round vaulted the Victorian into the 36-hole lead at Royal Birkdale, with Herbert joining just five other players to have shot 62 in one of the ‘big four’ championships.
Lucas Herbert joined a select group with his second round 62.
However, before anyone had the opportunity to analyze and enthuse over the special round, comes Sam Burns a few hours later, six-under on the back nine, with birdies at his last three holes, the American matching Herbert’s 62.
Bouncing, fast and challenging to most, at the same time a course was giving up low scores to those in control of their game, only 24-hours later eventual champ Ryan Fox managed a 62 of his own, in the process going from a tie for 52nd after two rounds, to playing in the final group on Sunday.
With the three 62’s, a score shot at an Open Championship only once previously, by Brandon Grace back in 2017, making for a record week at Royal Birkdale.
DeChambeau in rules controversy
Two-time major champion Bryson DeChambeau signed for a second day 66, coupled with an opening round of 67, to sit just three shots behind leader Lucas Herbert.
Unfortunately for the outspoken and charismatic American, R&A rules officials were alerted to a potential rules infraction on the par four, fifth, checked vision of the possible infraction, took him back to the scene of the ‘crime’, before ruling DeChambeau had improved the intended path of his swing by stepping down the long fescue rough.
Bryson DeChambeau had his troubles on Friday, with R&A officials imposing a two-stroke penalty for a perceived rules infraction.
The result was a two-stroke penalty, a 68 rather than a 66, a considerably unhappy DeChambeau, and widespread conjecture as to whether the penalty imposed by the R&A was justified or not.
Bryson threatened to boycott the final two rounds and head home, Rory McIlroy was amongst those to express he thought the penalty was fair and reasonable, while DeChambeau’s band of supporters believed it to be a travesty.
While he likely wasn’t over it by Saturday, DeChambeau turned up to play the third round and failed to mount a serious challenge over the weekend, eventually finished in a tie for 14th, six strokes behind the winner.
Aussies at The Open
Firstly, Inside Golf apologises to Cameron John for leaving him off a list published in our July edition of Australians playing at Royal Birkdale. No excuse, however, John snuck under our radar by qualifying for the event courtesy of his second place finish at the International Series event in Singapore.
Secondly, in looking for understanding from the young Victorian, Inside Golf offers congratulations to John, second on the 2025-2026 Australasian Tour order of merit, for his performance in his first appearance in a major championship.
In and around the top 10 after the second and third rounds, while John may have been slightly disappointed with a last day 72, slipping from 11th to finish tied 28th, it gave Australian golf fans another example of what the talented 27-year-old is capable of.
Cameron John played strongly in his first appearance in a major championship.
We also rejoiced after Lucas Herbert’s second day 62, holding out hope he could become the sixth Australian winner of the Open Championship, however rounds of 71-71 saw the LIV golf star wind up tied sixth on six-under par, four strokes behind Ryan Fox.
Then just one back of Herbert, Adam Scott, teeing it up in his 101st consecutive major championship, and on a week where he celebrated his 46th birthday, showed there is plenty of fight left in the ‘old dog’ with his tie for ninth.
Of the other three Aussies in the field at Royal Birkdale, (Elvis Smylie withdrew in the lead up with injury), only Min Woo Lee was able to make the cut, finishing two-over and tied 59th, with Cam Smith (2-over) and Travis Smyth (3-over) narrowly falling short of qualifying for the final two rounds.
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