Royal Birkdale just became the scene of some absolutely wild golf history at The Open, with two guys firing off record-equalling 62s in the span of 20 minutes. But get this: the way Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns got there, and how they reacted, could not have been more different. Herbert, an Aussie, missed a five-foot par putt on the 18th, sending a grimace across his face and a groan through the galleries, knowing he'd just blown his chance to be the first man ever to shoot a 61 at a major.
The Agony of Being So Close
Herbert, a self-confessed "golf nerd," absolutely knew the history he was chasing. He just needed a par on the 18th to hit that mythical 61, but man, that hole was playing brutal. It was statistically the hardest on the course in round two, and it showed. He pushed his tee-shot way right, flirting with out of bounds, and ended up needing a penalty-free drop near the fence. Then, he chopped out of the gnarly fescue, couldn't get it on the green, and putted beneath the hole. After tugging his short shot left, Herbert bent over in pure disappointment before tapping in for a bogey. That finish had to sting. "I've got a lot of emotions, whether its relief or pride, or disappointment," Herbert told BBC Radio 5 Live. But hey, he still shot a 62 and is now tied for the record, setting the clubhouse lead at eight under par. He's also a LIV golfer who won his first tournament in May, so he's on a roll.Burns' Bunkered Bliss and Unknowing Record
Minutes after Herbert's heartbreak, Sam Burns of the United States stepped up and delivered his own jaw-dropping moment. The 29-year-old American chipped in from a greenside bunker on the 18th for a brilliant birdie to also card an eight-under-par round. Burns absolutely lost it, punching the air as a "rapturous roar" exploded across the course. Here's the kicker, though: "I didn't know 62 was the record. I had no idea," Burns admitted to the media afterwards. Imagine making history and having no clue! Burns started Friday three over par and now sits at five under for the tournament, three shots behind Herbert. Overnight leader Jackson Suber is sandwiched between them at six under after following his opening 65 with a 69. Burns also came agonizingly close at the US Open in June, finishing just one shot behind champion Wyndham Clark. So, both guys are now the sixth and seventh men to shoot 62 at a major, joining Branden Grace who also did it at The Open at Royal Birkdale back in 2017. What a wild ride heading into the weekend! You've got Herbert holding the lead, knowing exactly what he almost did, and Burns lurking, probably still processing what he actually did. The Open is just getting started, and you can bet the competition is going to be fierce.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.