A remarkable second round in The Open saw Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns both equal the record for the lowest score in a major within minutes of each other.
A bogey at the last cost Australian Herbert his place in history with a new mark after a run of nine birdies but his 62 – recorded by four other men – propelled him into a two-shot lead at Royal Birkdale.
Incredibly, within 20 minutes American Burns holed out from a greenside bunker on 18 for his sixth birdie on the back nine to also post the same number, having covered the front nine in two under.
And even more remarkably it was the second time in three years two players separated by just one group had posted record-equalling scores, matching the feat of Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler in the 2023 US Open at Los Angeles Country Club.
That pair had followed the first man to achieve a 62: South African Branden Grace in the third round at the par-70 Birkdale in 2017.
Schauffele repeated the feat, along with Ireland’s Shane Lowry, in the 2024 US PGA Championship at Valhalla.
Bizarrely, Herbert failed to take advantage of the two back-nine par fives, before a drive into the rough and then a missed five-footer at the 18th brought his first bogey.
The 30-year-old 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, 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.
Herbert had mixed feelings about his experience, saying: “I’m absolutely disappointed, and at the same time so proud to put my name on that list of guys that have shot 62 in a major championship.
“It’s kind of holding two emotions there at the same time. It’s a tricky one, and I’m sure once the dust settles, I’ll be able to sort of decompress it a little bit.
“I can at least sit here and tell you guys that I did the best I could to shoot the best round I could, and I have no regrets.
“The first 12 holes, I might not play 12 better holes in my life. I was eight under through 12 and you could make a very good argument that I could have been a couple better as well.”
Burns began the day outside the cut line on three over but finished it three off the lead.
“I caught myself by surprise,” said the 29-year-old, who only decided to travel on Friday after wife Caroline gave birth early to their second child, Belle, a fortnight ago.
“I thought there was zero percent chance (of playing). Then we ended up having her on the third, even then I still wasn’t expecting to play but my wife encouraged me to come over here and play and here we are.”
While Masters champion Rory McIlroy could not reproduce similar scoring, he did, at least, ensure he made the weekend after starting the day two over.
Four birdies and one bogey saw him sign for a 67 and move comfortably within the cut line.
“I think the main objective was to be here for the weekend, which I am,” said the Northern Irishman.
“If I can get off to a decent start tomorrow, be four or five under for the tournament, I’ll be right in it.”
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