A Historic Front Nine at Royal Birkdale
Australian golfer Lucas Herbert delivered a spectacular performance during the second round of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, carding a six-under-par 28 on the front nine. This achievement marks only the second time in the tournament’s history that a player has reached such a score over the opening nine holes, matching the record set by Denis Durnian in 1983.
Herbert, a 30-year-old competitor, began his surge with three consecutive birdies. He maintained his momentum with additional birdies on the 5th, 7th, and 9th holes, capped off by a precise putt from off the green to secure the lead early on the second day of competition.
Rapid Pace of Scoring
The intensity of the 2026 Open continued to escalate shortly after Herbert’s round. American golfer Sam Burns matched the blistering pace, carding a round of 62—a score that both he and Herbert achieved during the day’s play. Burns secured his place in the history books by holing out from a greenside bunker to complete his round, effectively shifting the leaderboard dynamics.
As the tournament progresses, the leaderboard remains highly contested. Alongside Herbert and Burns, other competitors, including first-round leader Jackson Suber and Cameron Young, remain in contention, sitting at six-under-par. The R&A continues to provide live coverage of the proceedings, highlighting the exceptional scoring conditions presented by the Royal Birkdale course.