SOUTHPORT, England -- Ryan Fox carded a record-tying 62 on Saturday at the Open Championship, marking the third time this week a player has matched the all-time major championship scoring mark. Navigating the par-70 Royal Birkdale links during a morning window with minimal wind, the New Zealander recorded five birdies across the front nine. He secured his place in the record books by birdying two of his final three holes. This performance represents one of only eight rounds of 62 ever recorded in major championship history.
Historic Scoring at Royal Birkdale
The scoring surge at Southport has been unprecedented, with half of the eight all-time 62s in majors occurring at this specific venue. Branden Grace originally established the record at Royal Birkdale in 2017. During the current tournament, Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns both posted rounds of 62 on Friday, finishing their respective rounds just 20 minutes apart. Fox now joins this group as the third competitor to reach the milestone within the same week.
Final Hole Par Save
Fox nearly eclipsed the record entirely on the 18th hole. After landing in a fairway pot bunker, he successfully reached the green to set up a birdie attempt from nearly 50 feet. A conversion would have resulted in a 61, but the putt stopped approximately 5 feet short of the cup. He subsequently holed the remaining par putt to finalize his 62. The round capitalized on early conditions before the wind intensified on the links course.