Australian golfer Lucas Herbert shot an eight-under-par 62 at Royal Birkdale on Friday, equaling the lowest round in major championship history and claiming a share of the halfway lead at the 154th British Open.
The 30-year-old Victorian built a two-shot cushion heading into the weekend after nearest competitor Bryson DeChambeau received a two-stroke penalty for inadvertently improving his lie in the rough, dropping him from seven under to five under.
>>> Astronomers Detect Atmosphere on Habitable Zone Exoplanet LHS 1140 b
Herbert reached six under through nine holes to tie the Open nine-hole record before finishing his landmark round.
He missed a five-foot putt on the final hole that would have yielded the first 61 in men's major history.
"It's two worlds apart, to have dreams and then to have even a glimpse of them coming to reality.
I have dreams of winning the Open Championship for sure - and I'm in a great position to do that," said Herbert.
The Australian noted his motivation to push for victory over the final two rounds.
"I would love to tick off more than shooting 62 and, yeah, I've got a great opportunity; I'm looking forward to getting after it on the weekend," he said.
Reflecting on his misstep on the 18th green, Herbert maintained confidence.
"I can at least sleep easy tonight knowing I didn't hit a bad putt, I just misread it," he said.
>>> Ford Workers in Canada Approve New Contract with V8 Production Boost
