Lucas Herbert did something on Thursday at Royal Birkdale that almost no one has done before.
The Australian golfer shot a six-under par 28 on the front nine during the second round of the 2026 Open Championship, equaling the front-nine course record and moving to the top of the leaderboard in the process. According to BBC Sport, the round was described as amazing by those covering it.
Herbert's front nine put him in a position few players reach at a major championship. Royal Birkdale, located in Southport, England, is one of the most demanding links courses in the rotation for The Open. A 28 on any nine holes there is a rare achievement.
The 2026 Open Championship is the 23rd men's World Cup of golf's equivalent in prestige. Herbert entered the second round looking to build on his first-round performance, and his front nine on Thursday gave him the outright lead at the point he reached the turn.
No further details on his back nine or the full second-round leaderboard were immediately available, but Herbert's position at the top gave him a strong chance to contend heading into the weekend at one of golf's four major championships.
