Choudrant resident Sam Burns delivered one of the greatest rounds in golf history Friday morning, firing a bogey-free 8-under-par 62 during the second round of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale to tie the lowest round ever recorded in a men’s major championship.
Burns’ 62 also matched the Open Championship scoring record, first established by South Africa’s Branden Grace during the third round of the 2017 championship, which also was played at Royal Birkdale. Burns became just the sixth golfer to shoot 62 in a men’s major championship.
The record-tying round marked a remarkable turnaround for Burns, who opened the championship Thursday with a 3-over-par 73 that included just one birdie and four bogeys.
One day later, Burns looked like a completely different golfer.
The former LSU All-American carded 10 pars and eight birdies during Friday’s round, including six birdies on his final nine holes. He finished in spectacular fashion by birdieing each of his final three holes, punctuating the historic performance by holing out from a greenside bunker on the par-4 18th hole.
Burns’ 62 came just hours after Australia’s Lucas Herbert also matched the major championship scoring record. Herbert carries the 36-hole lead at 8-under-par 132, while Burns sits in a two-way tie for fourth at 5-under 135, just three shots off the pace entering the weekend.
The performance continues an impressive stretch for Burns, who is coming off a runner-up finish at last month’s U.S. Open and is seeking the first major championship victory of his career.
Friday’s heroics nearly never happened.
Burns had planned to remain home in Louisiana after he and his wife, Caroline, welcomed their second child, daughter Belle, earlier this month. But with Belle arriving ahead of schedule, Caroline encouraged her husband to make the trip to England.
That decision has already paid dividends.
With two rounds remaining, Burns finds himself squarely in contention for the Claret Jug heading into the weekend.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
