Burns ties major record with 62 at Royal Birkdale
Sam Burns shot a record-equalling 62 in the second round, matching Lucas Herbert’s score, after being persuaded by his wife to attend the tournament following the premature birth of his second child.
Sam Burns has tied the major championship record for the lowest round with a score of 62 during the second round of the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. The American golfer finished on the same score as Australian Lucas Herbert, who also recorded a 62, matching the historic mark first set by Branden Grace at the same venue in 2017.
Burns’ participation in the tournament was far from certain. He had initially decided to skip the event due to the pending birth of his second child, Belle, who was born prematurely on July 3, nine days before her expected due date. Burns cited his wife’s encouragement as the primary reason for his decision to travel to England, describing her support as the key factor in allowing him to compete despite the family circumstances.
The round represented a significant turnaround for Burns, who had struggled in the first round with a three-over 73. After a difficult finish on Friday, he rebounded with a solid front nine and three birdies in his next four holes. He completed the round with three more birdies, including a hole-out from a bunker on the 18th hole, to finish at one under par for the tournament.
Burns admitted he was unaware he had tied the record until an official informed him during or after his round. He also noted that he was surprised by his own performance, given his historical difficulty with links golf. He has never finished better than tied for 31st at the Open Championship previously and has described the unpredictable bounces and slopes of links courses as frustrating compared to the controlled conditions he experiences in the United States.
The performance marks a notable shift for a player who has been in good form recently, including a solo second place at the U.S. Open and four straight top-20 finishes leading into the event. Burns, who played a practice round with Scottie Scheffler on Wednesday, described his approach to the tournament as embracing the chaos and accepting the outcomes of the unique challenges presented by the Royal Birkdale course.
