Five feet and three inches separated Lucas Herbert from making history at The Open. The Australian golfer needed to hole a putt of that length on the 18th hole to card the first 61 in men's major championship history. Instead, the putt slid past, leaving Herbert to settle for a 62, equaling the course record and the lowest round in a major.
Herbert's Emotional Rollercoaster
Herbert's immediate reaction was to slump over his knees in disappointment. His caddie, Nick Pugh, noted the pressure of the moment. "I would back Lucas 100 times out of 100 to hole those," Pugh said. "He's one of the best putters, if not the best putter in the world. But when your heart is racing and you know what's on the line, there's probably just that little distraction."
Herbert acknowledged the mixed emotions. "I'm absolutely disappointed and at the same time, so proud of today," he said. "Very, very proud to put my name on that list of guys that have shot 62 in a major championship. So it's kind of holding two emotions there at the same time."
Record-Breaking Round
Herbert's 62 placed him atop the leaderboard at eight under par. He became the sixth player to shoot 62 in a major and only the second in Open history. The round included a front nine of 28, matching the lowest nine-hole score in Open history. He birdied the 1st, 2nd, 10th, 11th, and 12th holes, and added another at the 16th.
Herbert recalled a childhood memory of watching Chad Campbell's attempt at a 62 in the 2009 Masters. "I thought, if one kid gets woken up by their parents to watch me finish this round because that's the record being broken, that would be so cool," he said.
Sam Burns Matches the Milestone
Adding to Herbert's frustration, Sam Burns holed out from a bunker on the 18th to shoot 62 of his own, matching the record. Burns surged to within three shots of Herbert's lead. The American's feat came as Herbert was still conducting media interviews.
A Tight Bond
Herbert shared a special moment with his caddie after the round. "Nick married my wife and I last year, he was our reverend," Herbert explained. "I said to him after missing that putt on the last: 'I love doing this stuff with you, mate.'"
The round captivated galleries at Royal Birkdale, where the course played easier than expected. Herbert's near-miss and Burns' heroics highlighted a remarkable day at The Open.
