​There have been 154 Open Championships to date. Until Friday, only once had a player posted a 28 over nine holes. Lucas Herbert has now become the second player to achieve that feat. The 30-year-old Australian has been lighting up Royal Birkdale, riding a wave of aggressive ball-striking and deft putting to surge to the top of the leaderboard at the 2026 Open Championship. He kicked off his round with birdies on his first three holes, then kept the pace with three more birdies over the next six to finish the front nine in a 6-under 28.
That two dozen score ties Denis Durnian for the lowest nine-hole score ever recorded at a major championship, an event that began in 1860. Durnian’s 28 also came on the front nine at Royal Birkdale, a hole layout that plays as a par 34. Durnian would eventually post a 2-over 36 on the back nine, wrapping the round with a 66.
As for how low the best-ever nine-hole scores can go at majors, the record books show five players have shot 62 in major championship play. The first to do so was Branden Grace at Royal Birkdale in 2017, a round highlighted by a front-nine 29 before he closed with three birdies on the back nine.
This story will continue to develop as Herbert navigates the back nine, with updates to come as he makes his bid at the title. The current momentum around Herbert’s round is a focal point for fans and pundits alike, as he attempts to extend a remarkable round into a championship-worthy comeback. Stay tuned for live updates as he eyes the back nine and seeks to push further up the leaderboard in pursuit of Open glory.