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In a record-setting Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, Sam Burns emerged as the best of the low scorers Saturday after the third round of the final major of the year.
Burns fired a 65 in the third round to take a two-shot lead into the final round over Si Woo Kim and Ryan Fox, who became the third player in two days to shoot a 62 and tie a major tournament record.
On Friday, it was Burns and Lucas Herbert who both shot 62 in the second round during a tournament that has produced nearly perfect conditions for low scores.
Burns, a 29-year-old from Shreveport, Louisiana, seeking his first major championship, posted the lowest consecutive 36 holes (with his 62 and 65) in major championship history.
He nearly skipped the Open Championship because his wife, Caroline, was expecting their second child in mid-July. But she gave birth to Belle 11 days early, and Burns decided last Friday to head to England because his agent, Brett Falkoff, had kept his entry in the mix.
“Obviously crazy when you have a newborn, and I'm sure crazier for my wife not having me there to help,” Burns told NBC Sports’ Cara Banks after his round. “Not that I can do much, but she's a rock star, and thankfully she's such an incredible mom. Ultimately, that's the reason I came over here. She said, ‘I've got it under control over here, so you try to go over there and take care of business.’
“It's been crazy, obviously, in a good way.”
Burns nearly forced a playoff at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock before missing a putt on the final hole but has a chance to redeem himself at Royal Birkdale.
“I thought about it for a couple days, and then life goes on,” Burns said. “Being able to come play here was a bonus this week. I kind of didn't think there was any possibility. So I'm excited. I think it's a great challenge tomorrow. And ultimately, whatever happens, you know, I can live with the result. “
Fox became the seventh player to shoot a 62. The New Zealander whose father was a member of the country’s famous “All Blacks” rugby team made nine birdies – eight on putts within 10 feet.
“I think my strategy most of the week's actually been to be aggressive,” Fox, whose only blemish was a birdie on the 13th, told NBC Sports’ Cara Banks. “I played really well yesterday and kind of didn't finish that well and took the same strategy today and hit a lot of really good shots. Maybe got away with a couple of scruffy shots down there on the back nine but very happy with 62.
“We've had perfect weather this week. You feel like this golf course can kind of go either way. If you get it going bad, it'll bite you really quickly, but if you hit a lot of good shots, you feel like you've got some chances. The greens are perfect, and it was nice to see some putts go in today. A lot of good shots.”
There have been eight rounds of 62 in major tournaments, and half have come at Birkdale. In addition to Herbert, Burns and Fox this weekend, Branden Grace was the first to shoot a record 62 in 2017 at Royal Birkdale.
But it’s no guarantee of ultimate success. Of the seven players who have done it, only Xander Schauffele (2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Club) has followed a 62 in a major with the victory.
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Burns fired a 65 in the third round to take a two-shot lead into the final round over Si Woo Kim and Ryan Fox, who became the third player in two days to shoot a 62 and tie a major tournament record.
On Friday, it was Burns and Lucas Herbert who both shot 62 in the second round during a tournament that has produced nearly perfect conditions for low scores.
Burns, a 29-year-old from Shreveport, Louisiana, seeking his first major championship, posted the lowest consecutive 36 holes (with his 62 and 65) in major championship history.
He nearly skipped the Open Championship because his wife, Caroline, was expecting their second child in mid-July. But she gave birth to Belle 11 days early, and Burns decided last Friday to head to England because his agent, Brett Falkoff, had kept his entry in the mix.
“Obviously crazy when you have a newborn, and I'm sure crazier for my wife not having me there to help,” Burns told NBC Sports’ Cara Banks after his round. “Not that I can do much, but she's a rock star, and thankfully she's such an incredible mom. Ultimately, that's the reason I came over here. She said, ‘I've got it under control over here, so you try to go over there and take care of business.’
“It's been crazy, obviously, in a good way.”
Burns nearly forced a playoff at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock before missing a putt on the final hole but has a chance to redeem himself at Royal Birkdale.
“I thought about it for a couple days, and then life goes on,” Burns said. “Being able to come play here was a bonus this week. I kind of didn't think there was any possibility. So I'm excited. I think it's a great challenge tomorrow. And ultimately, whatever happens, you know, I can live with the result. “
Fox became the seventh player to shoot a 62. The New Zealander whose father was a member of the country’s famous “All Blacks” rugby team made nine birdies – eight on putts within 10 feet.
“I think my strategy most of the week's actually been to be aggressive,” Fox, whose only blemish was a birdie on the 13th, told NBC Sports’ Cara Banks. “I played really well yesterday and kind of didn't finish that well and took the same strategy today and hit a lot of really good shots. Maybe got away with a couple of scruffy shots down there on the back nine but very happy with 62.
“We've had perfect weather this week. You feel like this golf course can kind of go either way. If you get it going bad, it'll bite you really quickly, but if you hit a lot of good shots, you feel like you've got some chances. The greens are perfect, and it was nice to see some putts go in today. A lot of good shots.”
There have been eight rounds of 62 in major tournaments, and half have come at Birkdale. In addition to Herbert, Burns and Fox this weekend, Branden Grace was the first to shoot a record 62 in 2017 at Royal Birkdale.
But it’s no guarantee of ultimate success. Of the seven players who have done it, only Xander Schauffele (2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Club) has followed a 62 in a major with the victory.
The Open Championship leaderboard
| Player | Third Round | Total |
| Sam Burns | 65 | -10 |
| Ryan Fox | 62 | -8 |
| Si Woo Kim | 67 | -8 |
| Ryan Gerard | 69 | -7 |
| Lucas Herbert | 71 | -7 |
| Bryson DeChambeau | 69 | -6 |
| Jackson Suber | 70 | -6 |
| Ludvig Aberg | 67 | -6 |
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