Lucas Herbert produced one of the standout rounds in modern major golf, surging to the top of The Open leaderboard after a sensational 62 at Royal Birkdale. In breaking news Ireland sports coverage and across global golf updates, the Australian’s charge instantly became one of the biggest talking points of the day after he matched the lowest score ever recorded in a men’s major.
Herbert looked capable of setting an outright record before a late bogey on the 18th denied him a historic 61. Even so, his round was enough to move him clear at the top, underlining why this is among the biggest ireland top stories for golf fans tracking the championship.
Herbert matches men’s major scoring record
The 30-year-old birdied relentlessly and played with control from the outset, carding nine birdies in total during a remarkable display on the Southport links. Eight of those gains came in his opening 12 holes, putting him on course for a record-breaking day.
His front nine was especially memorable. Herbert covered it in just 28 strokes, matching Denis Durnian’s long-standing Open Championship mark from 1983. With conditions relatively calm and the course running firm and fast, he took full advantage and reached six under through nine.
By the time he closed with a 33 on the back nine, Herbert had posted a 62 and moved two shots ahead of overnight leader Jackson Suber, who returned a solid 69.
- Front nine: 28
- Total birdies: 9
- Final round score: 62
- Lead after round: 2 shots
How the round unfolded at Royal Birkdale
Herbert’s charge was built on early momentum and clinical putting. He consistently created chances and converted enough of them to place the all-time major scoring benchmark within reach. The round was not entirely flawless, however, and that is what made the finish so dramatic.
He was unable to make the most of the two par fives on the inward half, a detail that became important as he chased history. He also missed a birdie chance from around 10 feet at the 17th, leaving himself one hole to set a new mark outright.
At the last, a drive into the rough put immediate pressure on the closing hole. A missed five-foot putt then led to his only bogey of the day, ending the chance of a record 61. Still, in ireland breaking news terms for the sporting world, matching the major championship low remains an elite achievement.
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Where Herbert’s 62 ranks in Open history
Herbert became only the fifth player to shoot 62 in a men’s major, placing his name alongside a select list of players who have reached that number on golf’s grandest stages. Royal Birkdale has now twice witnessed the feat, after Branden Grace also posted a 62 there during The Open in 2017.
Other players to reach the figure in recent seasons include Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele and Shane Lowry, though some of those rounds came on par-71 setups. Herbert’s effort on a par-70 course adds further weight to the performance.
It was also comfortably better than his previous best Open round, a 67 recorded at St Andrews in 2022. For followers of ireland headlines, ireland daily news and wider championship coverage, his leap from contender to leader was impossible to ignore.
Key historical context
- Herbert is only the fifth man to shoot 62 in a major.
- Royal Birkdale has now seen two such rounds.
- His 28 on the front nine matched an Open record.
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What it means going into the next stage
Herbert’s position at the top gives him a major opportunity, but the championship remains finely balanced. Jackson Suber is still within striking distance, and with leaderboard pressure mounting, the coming rounds will test whether Herbert can turn a record-equalling day into a career-defining victory.
For readers scanning breaking news Ireland coverage, this is the type of performance that shifts the mood of a major instantly. It also stands out in ireland news today because of the way Herbert combined fearless scoring with near-miss drama at the finish.
In summary, Herbert may have missed out on an all-time standalone record, but his 62 has still earned a place in major championship history. As breaking news Ireland audiences follow the tournament, his extraordinary round at Royal Birkdale will remain one of the defining moments of this year’s Open.
FAQs
What score did Lucas Herbert shoot?
He shot a 62, matching the lowest round ever recorded in a men’s major.
Did Herbert break the all-time major record?
No. A bogey on the 18th meant he matched the record rather than breaking it outright.
How far ahead is he?
He moved two shots clear of overnight leader Jackson Suber after Suber carded a 69.
Why is this round so significant?
It places Herbert among a very small group of players to shoot 62 in a major and included a record-equalling 28 on the front nine at The Open.
