Sam Burns holds a two-shot lead at the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, positioning himself for a potential first major title as he enters Sunday’s final round. Burns, 29, carded a 5-under 65 on Saturday, bringing his three-round total to 10-under 200. His performance follows a record-tying 62 in the second round, marking the lowest consecutive 36-hole score in major championship history.
Burns’ presence at the tournament was uncertain until shortly before the event. His wife, Caroline, gave birth to their second daughter, Belle, on July 3, 11 days before her due date. Although Burns initially considered skipping the major, he ultimately decided to travel to England after his wife encouraged him to compete.
A Record-Breaking Week at Royal Birkdale
The 2026 Open Championship has been defined by historically low scoring, aided by benign weather conditions and a course that has remained firm and fast. During the third round, Ryan Fox of New Zealand became the eighth golfer in history to record a 62 in a men’s major championship. Fox, who started the day at even par, climbed into contention with nine birdies, finishing at 8-under for the tournament.
Fox’s 62 is the third round of that score recorded during this week’s Open, following identical performances on Friday by Burns and Australia’s Lucas Herbert. Royal Birkdale has proven to be a frequent site for such scoring; half of the eight 62s in men’s major history have occurred at this venue, beginning with Branden Grace’s performance in 2017.
Despite the historic scoring, players have noted the fine line between success and failure on the course. 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,
Fox said.
The Contenders and the Final Stretch
Heading into the final round, the leaderboard remains crowded. Si Woo Kim and Ryan Fox share second place at 8-under, trailing Burns by two strokes. Ryan Gerard and Lucas Herbert follow at 7-under. Among those at 6-under are Bryson DeChambeau, Jackson Suber, and Ludvig Åberg.
DeChambeau is the only player currently in the top 10 with a previous major victory. His third round of 69 followed a controversial second round in which he received a two-stroke penalty for improving the area of his swing. DeChambeau, who sits four shots back of the lead, will need a strong start on Sunday to challenge the front-runners.
Other notable players remain within striking distance, including Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Jon Rahm, who are currently at 4-under, six shots behind Burns.
Context of the Competition
For Burns, the final round offers an opportunity to build on recent near-misses in major championships. Last month at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, he finished behind Wyndham Clark after missing a putt on the final hole that would have forced a playoff.
Despite the pressure, Burns maintained a perspective focused on his family and the unexpected nature of his participation this week. I think it's a great challenge tomorrow,
Burns said. And ultimately, whatever happens, you know, I can live with the result.
Leaderboard Snapshot (Top 5)
| Player | Third Round Score | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Burns | 65 | -10 |
| Ryan Fox | 62 | -8 |
| Si Woo Kim | 67 | -8 |
| Ryan Gerard | 69 | -7 |
| Lucas Herbert | 71 | -7 |
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