Herbert leads British Open golf, equals record lowest score at a major

Australian golfer Herbert ended the 2nd circular of the British Open with a two-shot pb connected eight-under lead.

Australia’s Lucas Herbert came ⁠⁠within a five-foot putt of becoming the ⁠⁠first golfer to sprout 61 successful a men’s large arsenic helium took a two-shot pb astatine the British Open with a superb second-round 62 that was matched by Sam Burns astatine the Royal Birkdale Golf Club.

Herbert, 30, finished connected Friday with an eight-under pb and would person gone retired connected Saturday with big-hitting American Bryson DeChambeau, who finished connected 7 nether aft an awesome 66.

Only 5 rounds of 62 had ever been completed astatine a men’s ⁠⁠major, but 2 arrived wrong minutes connected a sun-baked people arsenic Herbert and American Burns made it 1 of the astir singular scoring days successful Open Championship history.

But determination was precocious ⁠⁠drama arsenic the doubly US Open champion was deed with a two-shot punishment by the R&A aft being adjudged to person inadvertently improved the country of his intended plaything by treading down agelong writer aft uncovering unsmooth astatine the fifth.

DeChambeau was seen successful animated treatment with rules officials arsenic helium was driven backmost successful a buggy to the country of the incidental wherever his shot had ended up successful agelong grass.

Later, helium emerged from a compartment and headed to the scope without speaking to reporters different than to ask, “Are you guys ‌‌having a large night?”

Three Americans, first-round person Jackson Suber, Cameron Young and Ryan Gerard, were the closest challengers to Herbert connected six under.

Their compatriot Burns was a further changeable backmost alongside South Korean Kim Si-woo and DeChambeau. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler, attempting to go the archetypal antheral since Ireland’s Padraig Harrington successful 2008 to clasp the Claret Jug, struggled for momentum, but a 2nd successive 68 near him lurking successful a ample battalion connected 4 under.

Northern Ireland’s satellite fig 2 Rory McIlroy, bidding for his 2nd Open title, ensured helium volition beryllium astir for the play with his three-under 67 leaving him 7 shots adrift.

Herbert looked dejected arsenic helium shook hands with his playing partners connected the 18th contempt equalling the 62s by Branden Grace astatine the 2017 Open astatine Royal Birkdale, Rickie Fowler ⁠⁠and Xander Schauffele astatine the 2023 US Open, and Schauffele and Shane Lowry astatine the 2024 PGA Championship.

“It was a batch ⁠⁠of fun, those archetypal 12 holes; I don’t deliberation I’ve ever played play that good before,” Herbert, who plays connected the LIV Golf circuit, said.

“There was a large buzz retired there, and it felt similar everyone wanted it to happen. I felt similar I benignant of fto everyone down a spot missing that putt connected the last.”