Lucas Herbert Blazes Record-Tying 28 at The Open—Can the Aussie Star Seal a Historic Win?

Australian star Lucas Herbert lit up Royal Birkdale on Friday, firing a blistering six-under-par 28 on the front nine to grab the halfway lead at the 154th Open Championship. The 30-year-old matched the tournament’s nine-hole scoring record set by Denis Durnian in 1983 and instantly vaulted himself from top-20 outsider to serious Claret Jug contender. Herbert, who joined LIV Golf’s Ripper GC in 2024, rode a trio of early birdies before holing a 40-footer from the fringe at the par-4 ninth, sending the English gallery into a frenzy. After signing for a second-round 64, he sat at -10, one clear of world No. 2 Rory McIlroy as afternoon winds began to whip across the Southport links. The Victorian native already owns victories on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, but his breakout moment of 2026 came in May when he went wire-to-wire at LIV Golf Virginia, outdueling Sergio Garcia for his first league title. Friday’s fireworks suggest the confidence from that win has traveled across the Atlantic. “I’ve always loved links golf—growing up in Bendigo you learn to flight the ball,” Herbert told Sky Sports after the round. “The putter woke up today, and once a few went in early I just chased the momentum.” Key numbers boost his case: Herbert ranks fifth this week in strokes-gained putting and is hitting 78 percent of fairways despite Birkdale’s penal bunkering. Historically, every Open champion at this venue since 1971 has been inside the top 5 for driving accuracy. What’s next? Saturday’s forecast calls for 25-mph gusts, conditions that could favor Herbert’s low-spinning ball flight. If he holds on, he’ll become just the second Australian after Greg Norman to win an Open at Royal Birkdale and the first major champion produced by LIV Golf. Search interest in “Lucas Herbert British Open” and “Herbert 28 front nine” has already spiked overnight, and betting markets slashed his odds from 66-1 to 10-1 in a matter of hours. Expect traffic-worthy storylines to keep building: a record-tying start, a potential national milestone, and the ongoing PGA-LIV narrative all converge on England’s northwest coast this weekend. Fans in Australia can catch third-round coverage from 8 p.m. AEST on Fox Sports, while U.S. viewers can stream via Peacock beginning 6 a.m. ET. Wherever you are, keep an eye on Herbert—history shows that a hot putter and coastal winds can produce some of golf’s most unforgettable finishes.