The Open 2026: Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns equal major record at Royal Birkdale

Herbert looked set to become the first player to shoot a 61 in a major and only needed a par on the 18th to create history.

However, the final hole has statistically being playing the hardest on the course in round two and he pushed his tee-shot well right of the fairway – flirting with out of bounds and ultimately needing a penalty-free drop after his ball nestled close to the fence separating the fairway from the spectators.

With a large posse of reporters, broadcasters and cameras behind him, Herbert chopped out of the long, wispy fescue with an approach short of the green and putted beneath the hole with his third stroke.

After tugging his short shot at history left of the hole, Herbert bent over in disappointment before composing himself to tap in.

The finish may have been unfulfilling, but that should not cloud what was a splendid performance.

Asked if he realised on the course that he had the opportunity to create history, Herbert, who plays on the LIV Golf circuit and won his first tournament in May, said: “Nobody was telling me but I definitely knew.

“I did a great job of staying present and not thinking about the records. I needed to take care of what I was doing and I did a pretty good job of that.”

The lowest score in any major was recorded by South Korea’s Haeran Ryu, who shot an 11-under-par 60 on her way to winning the Evian Championship earlier this month.