Friday drama

Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns each equalled the lowest ever Open score with sizzling rounds of 62 in Southport.

Both players wrote their names into the Championship's history books during an afternoon of incredible drama at Royal Birkdale.

Their achievements match the feat achieved by Branden Grace at the same venue nine years ago. At the time that was the lowest round ever recorded by a man in any major.

Herbert became the fifth man to card 62 in a major championship (Xander Schauffele has achieved the feat twice), with Burns, who was two groups behind the Australian, becoming the sixth around 20 minutes later.

Herbert's second day began with three consecutive birdies. He then picked up shots at the 5th, 7th and 9th to go out in 28, equalling the lowest front nine in Open history - a record which has stood since Denis Durnian's front nine at Royal Birkdale 43 years ago.

Further birdies at the 11th, 12th and 16th put him on the cusp of a record-breaking 61. However, his 5ft par putt on 18 slid just past the hole and he had to tap in for 62.

Burns birdied the 2nd and 4th holes, before finding incredible form on the back nine - six birdies helping him come home in 30 and completing his eight-under-par total of 62. His final shot, a hole-out for birdie from a greenside bunker, will live long in the memory

A number of players have recorded 63 at The Open, including Haotong Li in Southport nine years ago, Shane Lowry on his way to glory at Royal Portrush in 2019 and Jon Rahm further down England’s Golf Coast – at Royal Liverpool – in 2023.