Another day, another 62 at Royal Birkdale. This is ridiculous.
Just 24 hours after Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns both posted 62 seconds, tying the record for the shortest round in men’s major history, Ryan Fox did the exact same thing. Fox finished the -8 round with nine birdies and one bogey to share the lead at the British Open.
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He was 18 years old, sitting on the tee, and only a par was enough to equal the record. He immediately hit his tee shot into a greenside bunker, but then aimed for the green and hit the shot over the edge of the bunker and onto the green. His long birdie putt to set the record fell a few feet short.
Fox doesn’t have an outstanding track record in the majors. He has never finished in the top 15 at any major tournament. He has won twice on the PGA Tour, most recently at the RBC Canadian Open in June 2025.
62 in the majors is becoming something of a 100 mph wall for pitchers. While it was once only attainable by a select few, it is becoming more common as the years go by. Of the eight 62-second times in men’s major history, seven have come in the past three years. The 8th time was exactly 9 years ago. The combination of power off the tee, improved equipment and milder conditions like this week’s Royal Birkdale has opened the door and the pros are on the offensive.
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The six players before Fox hit 62 in the majors. Branden Grace accomplished that in 2017 at Royal Birkdale. Xander Schauffele has won twice, the 2023 U.S. Open and the 2024 PGA Championship. Rickie Fowler achieved it at the 2023 US Open. Shane Lowry did it at the 2024 PGA Championship. And Herbert and Burns did it on Friday. Of the players who finished the round, Schauffele was the only one to survive.
