Lucas Herbert catches fire at Birkdale, ties Open and major record

Lucas Herbert joined exclusive company Friday at The Open – and before noon local time no less.

Herbert birdied six of Royal Birkdale’s first nine holes to go out in a record-tying, 6-under 28. Herbert’s front nine, which also pushed the Aussie into the solo lead, matched Denis Durnian, who was previously the only man to shoot sub-29 for nine holes in Open history.

Durnian, a club professional from Manchester, England, also carded his 28 at Birkdale, in 1983, when he missed a 10-footer for birdie on the ninth for 27.

Brad Faxon is the only other player in major history to shoot 28, doing so on the front nine at Riviera during the final round of the 1995 PGA Championship.

Birkdale boasts more history, too, as Branden Grace carded the lowest 18-hole score in an Open (62) here in 2017.

Herbert’s day, which followed his first-round, level-par 70, started with three straight birdies – from 16 feet at the par-4 first, 15 feet at the par-5 second and 5 feet at the par-4 third. He drove it up around the green at No. 5 before getting up and down for another birdie, then added a 35-foot birdie at the par-3 seventh.

Herbert’s final birdie on the front came on a 25-yard putt from off the green.

Herbert, 30, entered this week ranked No. 97 in the world rankings, having won earlier this year at LIV Golf Virginia but missing the cut in his last start, at the U.S. Open.