Burns leads Open Championship field by two shots as final round approaches
Sam Burns holds the lowest consecutive-round score in major history, while three players tie the single-round major record of 62 ahead of Sunday’s decider.
The 2026 Open Championship enters its decisive final stage at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England, with Sam Burns holding a two-shot advantage over the field. The R&A is set to crown a new Champion Golfer of the Year in what marks the first Open Championship at the venue in nine years.
Burns has established a commanding position after recording the lowest score across consecutive rounds in major championship history. His totals of 62 on Friday and 65 on Saturday resulted in a 127 score through 36 holes, a benchmark that stands alone in the sport’s history.
The tournament has also seen significant historical performances in individual rounds, with three golfers tying the men's major championship low of 62. While the identities of these players are not specified in the source material, the frequency of such scores suggests a challenging course setup that has favoured aggressive play.
The purse for the winner’s share has been enhanced to $17.5 million, drawing a strong field of contenders. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau are positioned in striking distance, alongside local favourite Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, and Xander Schauffele.
Conversely, some high-profile names are out of contention. Rory McIlroy is well off the pace, and Matt Fitzpatrick will not be playing in the weekend rounds. CBS Sports is providing comprehensive live coverage of the final round, which begins with tee times at 2:20 a.m.
Streaming coverage will be available on Peacock from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m., with Fubo listed as an alternative option. Television coverage will air on USA Network from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m., followed by main coverage on NBC from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
