Another day, another 62 at Royal Birkdale! Ryan Fox from New Zealand just dropped an insane 62 (-8) on day three of the 154th Open Championship, battling his way to a share of the lead. Get this: his round ties the record for the lowest score ever recorded in a men’s major. What’s absolutely bonkers is that this isn’t even the first time this week we’ve seen a 62; it’s the *third*. Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns both pulled it off on Friday.
Fox’s Wild Ride to the Top of the Leaderboard
Fox’s round was a clinic, honestly. He racked up nine birdies against just one bogey to hit that unbelievable -8. The drama wasn’t over until the very end, either. On the 18th, he needed a par to secure that record-tying 62, but his tee shot found a greenside bunker. No sweat, right? He rifled a shot straight over the bunker’s edge and landed it on the green. His long birdie putt for an outright record came up just a few feet short, but hey, a 62 is a 62! Fox isn’t exactly known for his major prowess, never cracking the top 15 before. He does have two PGA Tour victories, with his most recent being the RBC Canadian Open in June 2025.
Golf’s “Impossible” Record Is Now Just… Normal
This string of 62s is wild, and it really feels like the 100-mph barrier for pitchers in baseball. What used to be rare is quickly becoming common. Think about it: seven of the eight 62s ever recorded in men’s major history have happened in the last three years alone. The eighth was just nine years ago! It’s clear what’s driving this: bigger power off the tee, crazy-improved equipment, and conditions as benign as what we’re seeing this week at Royal Birkdale. Golf pros are just charging through doors that used to be locked. Six other guys have hit 62 in a major before Fox, including Branden Grace back in 2017 right here at Royal Birkdale, Xander Schauffele (twice!), Rickie Fowler, Shane Lowry, and of course, Herbert and Burns this very week. The crazy part? Only Schauffele went on to win after his record-tying rounds.
What does this mean for the final day? Fox shares the lead, making Sunday absolutely crucial for him. Could he be the second guy to win a major after carding a 62? And how many more times will this record get tied before someone finally shatters it? We’re on the edge of our seats!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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