The Open: Leader Lucas Herbert’s Major Championship Record…Isn’t Great

Lucas Herbert isn’t a household name, but after Friday morning, we all owe him a tip of the cap. What he did around Royal Birkdale during the second round of The Open was a blast to watch.

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He came out the gates firing, making birdie at his first three holes of the day. Before his front nine was done, he added three more circles to his card and made the turn with a 6-under 28, tying the lowest nine-hole score in Open history.

On the back, he birdied 11, 12, and 16, while sprinkling in some nice par saves to keep his card clean. Standing on the 18th tee box, Herbert was 9 under for the day and had history in his sights. The previous low 18-hole score at The Open came nine years ago, also at Royal Birkdale, when Branden Grace fired an 8-under 62 during the third round.

But in the end, all Herbert could do was tie. He missed a five-foot par putt on 18, and settled for a tie with Grace for the record. Still, what a round for the 30-year-old.

While the Aussie did win LIV Golf Virginia earlier this year, nothing in his major championship resume pointed to this happening. He’d never finished inside the top 10 of one of golf’s big four, and in 17 starts, he finished better than T-31 just twice.

When he signed his card, he held a two-shot lead over Jackson Suber. There are plenty of names who will give chase in the afternoon, but Herbert will be firmly in the conversation come Saturday.

If his first major top-10 finish is claiming the Claret Jug, that Wikipedia page will look even more wild.