Updated July 18, 2026 — 6:01am, first published 9:00pm
Southport: A day after demolishing a steak and a cheeseburger as fuel for his second round at the British Open, Australia’s Lucas Herbert opened with three straight birdies at Royal Birkdale and, at that moment, began believing he could do what no male golfer had achieved in 166 years of major championship golf.
A round of 61. Golf’s holy grail at a major.
Australian golfer Lucas Herbert shot a record-equalling 62 on Friday at the British Open. Getty Images But thinking it was possible with 15 holes remaining on a testing English links course? It was audacity and optimism akin to that of snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan in 2010 when, after potting just two balls, he asked the referee what the prize money was for a maximum break of 147. History shows O’Sullivan pocketed both the cash and one of sport’s rarest feats 34 shots later.
But on the final hole of his magnificent round on Friday, which had featured a remarkable eight birdies through his opening 12 holes and nine through 17, all that stood between Herbert and history was a 120-centimetre par putt he would expect to hole 100 times out of 100.
As marshals raised their “Quiet” signs in front of a swelling gallery spilling in from neighbouring fairways, Herbert tugged the putt left before tapping in for a record-equalling 62, eight under par, to seize the clubhouse lead heading into the weekend, ahead of Bryson DeChambeau at seven-under.
The Victorian slumped over his putter on the 18th green – “I was processing the moment” – as audible groans from the gallery gave way to applause for one of the
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