Lucas Herbert Shoots 62 After Missing Major Record Chance at The Open

What happened:

Watch the highlights:

Lucas Herbert came within one stroke of history at the 2026 Open Championship, according to BBC Sport. The Australian had a chance to shoot 61 in the second round at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, which the source describes as a potential lowest round in a men's major.

Instead, Herbert bogeyed the 18th after pulling a five-foot putt wide and finished with a round of 62. The result is still an exceptional major-championship score, but the final hole turned it from a record-breaking round into a near-miss.

Why it matters:

A 62 in a men's major is rare enough to define a round by itself. The extra weight here comes from the final-hole context. Herbert was not simply posting a low number; he was standing over a short putt with a chance at 61 and a place in the record conversation.

That makes the sequence unusually sharp. One missed five-footer changed the headline from record achievement to missed opportunity. It does not erase the quality of the round, but it does frame how the performance will be remembered during the championship.

Tournament impact:

The supplied source confirms the score and the missed chance, but it does not provide leaderboard position, total score, weather conditions, or how Herbert's 62 changed his standing in the tournament. Those details matter for judging whether this round made him a direct title contender, pushed him through the cut, or simply produced one of the championship's standout moments.

Even without the leaderboard, the implication is clear: a second-round 62 at The Open can materially change a player's week. It can move a player into the center of coverage, alter expectations for the weekend, and force the rest of the field to account for a major low number already posted at Royal Birkdale.

What to watch:

The next question is how Herbert responds after such a dramatic finish. A round that ends with a missed record putt can carry both momentum and frustration. The score gives him a powerful platform, but the bogey at 18 will be part of the mental test heading into the next stage of the championship.

Fans should also watch whether the 62 holds up as one of the defining rounds of the week and whether anyone else threatens the same scoring territory at Royal Birkdale.

Confidence:

Confirmed by the source: Herbert shot 62 in the second round of the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, bogeyed the 18th, and missed a five-foot putt that would have completed a 61. Still needing follow-up: his leaderboard position, full scorecard, conditions, and weekend implications.