Lucas Herbert leads Open after equalling record for lowest score at men’s major

By Carl Markham, Press Association

A bogey at the last cost Lucas Herbert his place in history with a new record for the lowest score in a major, but in becoming only the fifth man to shoot 62, he raced into the lead in The Open at Royal Birkdale.

The Australian carded nine birdies – eight coming in his first 12 holes – to bring the landmark into sight but came up just short, having not managed to take advantage of the two back-nine par fives.

A drive into the rough and then a missed five-footer at the 18th brought his first bogey, and while there was a tinge of disappointment, he was still able to console himself with the fact very few people had matched his achievement.

It was the second time the score had been made at the par-70 Southport links, with Branden Grace the first man to post 62 in the third round here in 2017.

Since then Rickie Fowler (2023), Xander Schauffele twice (2023 and 2024 – the second on a par-71 course) and Shane Lowry (2024, also par-71) all joined the South African in the history books.

But in relatively benign conditions, on a course playing firm and fast, the 30-year-old Herbert blew them away.

He covered the front nine in just 28 strokes, equalling Denis Durnian’s 1983 Open record, to get to six under and came home in 33 to move two ahead of overnight leader Jackson Suber, who shot a 69.

Herbert, whose previous best round at The Open was a 67 at St Andrews in 2022, also missed a 10-foot birdie putt at the 17th, having also parred the other par five.

Coincidentally, a new record was set in women’s majors only last Saturday when Haeran Ryu shot 60 at the Evian Championship.