Royal Birkdale sees record-tying rounds as Burns leads Open Championship

By Jordan Hayes — 18 July 2026 — 3 min read

Sam Burns has taken the lead at the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, sitting at 10-under par after the third round. Burns shot a 65 today, following a 62 yesterday, which marks the lowest 36-hole stretch in major championship history. He holds a two-shot advantage over Ryan Fox and Si Woo Kim.

Fox, from New Zealand, matched a major championship record with a 62 in the third round. He made five birdies on the front nine and added two more on his final three holes on the par-70 Birkdale links. This performance moved him into contention, two shots behind Burns.

Lucas Herbert and Burns also achieved rounds of 62 on Friday. There have now been eight rounds of 62 in major championship history, with four of them occurring at Royal Birkdale. Branden Grace was the first to record a 62 at Royal Birkdale in 2017.

Record-Setting Performances

The conditions at Royal Birkdale, characterized by fast, brown links and a lack of strong wind, have contributed to the low scores seen throughout the tournament. Fox, known for his strong play, utilized his driver effectively to create birdie opportunities. He noted that his game plan was to be aggressive, especially with wedge shots.

Fox’s round included a lone bogey on the 13th hole after his drive landed in a pot bunker. All but one of his nine birdies came from approximately 10 feet or closer. On the 321-yard fifth hole, his drive landed about 30 feet from the hole, and a crucial wedge shot from the rough on the par-5 17th rolled to about 4 feet.

Herbert also had a bogey during his 62 on Friday. Royal Birkdale is the first major course to yield three rounds of 62 or lower in the same championship, with half of the field still to play on Saturday and the final round remaining.

Burns’ Path to the Lead

Burns’ strong performance comes after previous close calls in majors, including holding a 54-hole lead at the U.S. Open last year. He also narrowly missed forcing a playoff at this year’s U.S. Open. His close friendship with World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler has been a factor in his improved major championship contention.

Burns mentioned that observing Scheffler’s approach to the game, particularly his ability to minimize mistakes and avoid unnecessary risks, has significantly influenced his own play. He noted that he previously played too aggressively on courses where precision is more heavily penalized.

Burns also commented on a two-shot penalty received by Bryson DeChambeau, whom he played alongside in Round 3. Burns expressed sympathy for DeChambeau, stating that he felt there might not have been sufficient evidence for the penalty. DeChambeau, who is tied for sixth at 6-under, is the only player in the top 10 who has won a major.

The 29-year-old Burns revealed that he had not expected to play in the tournament due to his wife Caroline’s due date. However, the early arrival of their daughter, Belle, last week allowed him to participate. Caroline encouraged him to compete, despite the recent birth.

Other Contenders and Final Round Outlook

Si Woo Kim and Ludvig Åberg also made significant moves up the leaderboard in the third round. Kim shot 3-under, including a 32 on the front nine, to earn a spot in the final grouping. Åberg also shot 3-under, with a 34 on the back nine, placing him tied for fourth at 6-under.

Hometown player Tommy Fleetwood remained in contention, despite bogeys on two of his last four holes, finishing the day at 5-under. Ryan Gerard had a steady round, shooting a 69 and ending at 7-under, three shots behind Burns. There are 49 players under par after three rounds.

The final round is set to determine the champion of the Open Championship.

Source: apnews.com