New Zealand's Ryan Fox tied the record for the lowest round in major championship history by shooting a 62. This occurred on July 18 during the third round of the 2026 British Open at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England.
Ryan Fox's 8-under-par 62 and the 321-yard fifth hole
Ryan Fox delivered a masterclass in precision on Saturday, carding an 8-under-par 62 that matches the lowest score ever recorded in a major. According to the report, the New Zealand golfer combined aggressive driving with clinical putting, recording nine birdies and only one bogey. A stanndout moment occurred on the 321-yard fifth hole, where a powerful drive left Ryan Fox just 30 feet from the pin.
The round was further solidified by a high-pressure wedge shot from the rough on the 17th hole, which rolled to within four feet of the cup.. while Ryan Fox admitted he felt a record was possible once he reached 6 under through 14 holes, he settled for a par on the final hole after landing in a bunker off the tee.
Royal Birkdale's role in half of all major 62s
The 2026 British Open has highlighted a peculiar trend regarding the venue's scoring potential. Royal Birkdale has now produced four of the eight recorded rounds of 62 in major championship history, meaning this single course accounts for 50% of such historic feats. This includes a previous record-setting 62 by Branden Grace in 2017.
As the report says, the usually treacherous coastal links were transformed into a "scoring haven" due to a rare combination of minimal wind and firm, fast turf. These conditions allowed players to attack pins with aggression and reach par-5s in just two shots, stripping away the traditional defensive challenges of the Royal Birkdale layout.
The first major to yield three rounds of 62 or lower
The 2026 British Open is the first major championship to see three different players shoot a 62 or lower in a single tournament. Joining Ryan Fox in this elite bracket are Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns, both of whom carded 62s on Friday. This follows a broader trend where seven other major courses have previously seen two rounds of 63 or lower in one event, but Royal Birkdale has pushed that boundary further.
The scoring surge was witnessed fiirsthand by Xander Schauffele,who played alongside Ryan Fox. schauffele, the only golfer to have recorded multiple 62s in major championships, nearly joined the record books again on Saturday but parred the final hole, missing a long putt that would have given him a 61.
The leaderboard gap and the remaining third-round field
Despite the historic nature of Ryan Fox's 62, the leaderboard remained volatile as the third round progressed. When Ryan Fox finished his round, half of the field had yet to complete their play, leaving the top positions crowded. This included Lucas Herbert, who had already posted a 62 on Friday but had not yet teed off for his Saturday round.
The volatility suggests that the final round may see further sub-70 scores if the calm weather persists. The ability of players to leverage power—exemplified by Ryan Fox's rugby-influenced strength—against firm turf is likely to remain the dominant strategy as the tournament concludes in Southport.
Comments 0