The second round of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale delivered everything golf fans could ask for historic scoring, stunning controversy, heartbreaking missed cuts, and a leaderboard packed with the world’s biggest stars heading into the weekend.
By the end of Friday, Australia’s Lucas Herbert and American Sam Burns had each fired sensational 8-under-par 62s, tying the lowest 18-hole score ever recorded in a major championship. Their brilliant performances vaulted them to the top of the leaderboard and established Herbert as the man to catch entering Moving Day.
While Herbert and Burns celebrated career defining rounds, the day’s biggest story came after Bryson DeChambeau walked off the course.
Royal Birkdale has long been known as one of golf’s toughest links tests, but Herbert and Burns made it look surprisingly manageable.
Both players carded eight birdies in flawless rounds that matched the all-time major championship scoring record of 62. Every aspect of their games clicked from pinpoint iron play to confident putting as they navigated the firm fairways and tricky greens with remarkable precision.
Herbert’s historic round moved him into the outright lead, while Burns surged into contention with one of the finest rounds ever played in Open Championship history.
The pair’s record tying performances instantly became one of the defining moments of the 2026 championship.
For much of Friday afternoon, it appeared Bryson DeChambeau had positioned himself perfectly for the weekend.
After posting another impressive round, DeChambeau looked to be sitting alone in second place, just one shot behind Herbert. Then came the shocking twist.
Tournament officials assessed DeChambeau a two stroke penalty for a rules violation discovered after his round. The penalty dramatically altered the leaderboard, dropping him from second place into a tie for fifth.
Instead of entering Saturday one shot behind the leader, DeChambeau suddenly found himself three strokes back, creating an entirely different outlook heading into the final 36 holes.
The controversial ruling immediately became one of the biggest talking points of the championship.
The difficult conditions at Royal Birkdale claimed several high-profile victims. Two of this season’s major champions were unable to survive the cut.
PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai and U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark both finished outside the cut line, bringing their Open Championship hopes to an abrupt end.
The cut settled at 1-over par, leaving 78 players to compete over the weekend. One major champion, however, managed to keep his title hopes alive.
After an inconsistent opening round, Rory McIlroy responded with a composed 3-under-par performance to comfortably move onto the right side of the cut line.
The four-time major champion showed flashes of the form that has made him one of the game’s elite players and remains within striking distance entering the weekend.
Former major champion Jon Rahm quietly put together another excellent round. Following an opening-round 69, Rahm carded a 3-under 67 to improve to 4-under par for the championship.
His round included a late bogey at the par 3 15th, but Rahm responded like a champion, closing with birdie, birdie and par to maintain his momentum. Now sitting just four shots off the lead, Rahm remains firmly in contention for another major title.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler once again displayed remarkable consistency. Scheffler posted his second straight 68, completing the day bogey free while improving to 4-under par for the tournament.
Although he trails Herbert by four shots, Scheffler has positioned himself exactly where he wants to be entering the weekend. His steady ball striking and mistake free golf have kept him within striking distance despite not producing the spectacular low round many of his competitors enjoyed.
If the conditions become more difficult over the final two rounds, Scheffler’s patience and consistency could prove to be the winning formula.
With history already made, controversy dominating headlines, and several of golf’s biggest stars still in contention, the stage is set for an unforgettable weekend at Royal Birkdale.
Lucas Herbert enters Saturday holding the lead after matching a major championship scoring record, but he faces a crowded field that includes Sam Burns, Bryson DeChambeau despite his costly penalty, Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and several other proven champions capable of making a charge.
The 154th Open Championship has already delivered unforgettable moments through two rounds, and with the Claret Jug now within reach, the final 36 holes promise to provide even more drama as one player looks to etch his name into golf history.
