Overview
- Lucas Herbert shot an eight‑under 62 on Friday to take the lead at Royal Birkdale, including a six‑under 28 on the front nine and a missed five‑foot par putt on 18 that denied him the first 61 in a men’s major.
- Minutes after Herbert finished, Sam Burns carded his own eight‑under 62 with three late birdies capped by a bunker chip on 18 to join the majors record list.
- Jackson Suber, the surprise opening leader after a five‑under 65 on Thursday, steadied after a mid‑round wobble and remains near the top of the leaderboard heading into the weekend.
- Rory McIlroy improved from a poor opening round to sit 1‑under through 36 holes and is positioned to play the weekend while many afternoon starters face tougher, windier conditions.
- Royal Birkdale’s firm links and shifting wind and dew produced a wide scoring split on Friday, the 62s became the sixth such rounds in major history, and Herbert’s lead adds a cross‑tour storyline given his move to LIV Golf in 2024.