Jackson Suber led the British Open after Round 1, just like everybody expected.
Now, Lucas Herbert is making history, just like everybody expected.
The 26-year-old Suber, who has yet to win on the PGA Tour and hadn’t been to Europe before this week, surprised everyone when he posted a 5-under 65 on Thursday to kick off the final major championship of the season. That was enough to give him a one-shot lead over the field overnight at Royal Birkdale.
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And while Suber is hanging around the top of the leaderboard, it’s Herbert who is lighting it up. The 30-year-old Australian went out with a 6-under 28, tying the lowest-ever nine-hole score in the history of The Open Championship.
How low can he go? And will he still be in range when some of the bigger names hit the course.
We’ll see how things play out over the next few hours. And with great weather ahead, it should be a very entertaining afternoon.
Notable Friday tee times
All times ET
2:30 a.m.: Sami Valimaki, Shaun Norris, Jackson Suber
4:58 a.m.: Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark, Ludvig Åberg
5:09 a.m.: Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick
9:53 a.m.: Justin Thomas, Alex Noren, Jason Day
10:04 a.m.: Scottie Scheffler, Tyrrell Hatton, Bryson DeChambeau
10:15 a.m.: Jordan Spieth, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm
10:26 a.m.: Brian Harman, Si Woo Kim, Nick Taylor
How to watch the British Open
Friday, July 17
Peacock: 1:30 a.m. – 4 a.m. ET
USA Network: 4 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. ET
Follow along with the second round of the British Open with Yahoo Sports.
Live30 updatesFri, July 17, 2026 at 2:27 AM PDT
Jay Hart
As of 8:05 a.m. ET
Position
Player
Score
Thru
1
Lucas Herbert
-8
12
2
Jackson Suber
-6
F
T3
Collin Morikawa
-5
12
T3
Pierceson Coody
-5
15
T3
Bud Cauley
-5
14
T6
Matt Wallace
-4
F
T6
Patrick Reed
-4
13
T6
Cam Young
-4
11
Full leaderboard
Fri, July 17, 2026 at 4:57 AM PDT
Jay Busbee
If Lucas Herbert just pars his way into the clubhouse, he’ll match the lowest score ever recorded at a major. But with two par-5s still ahead, he had the opportunity to get ahead of that pace.
Unfortunately, he squandered one of those long holes at No. 14, with not one but two shots ending up in Royal Birkdale’s treacherous pot bunkers. He managed to salvage par and stay on pace to match the record.
Fri, July 17, 2026 at 4:43 AM PDT
Jay Busbee
After spending a few holes on the wrong side of the projected cut line, Rory McIlroy has righted the ship. He birdied 8 and 9 to get to -2 on the day and even par for the tournament.
Fri, July 17, 2026 at 4:32 AM PDT
Jay Busbee
Jackson Suber rolled in a long par putt on 18 to finish the day at -1, -6 for the tournament. He’s the clubhouse leader, but he’s still two strokes (at the moment) behind red-hot Lucas Herbert.
An impressive showing for Suber, who had never been to Europe before this week and played all of 27 holes of links golf to prepare.
Fri, July 17, 2026 at 4:12 AM PDT
Jay Hart
From about 14 feet at 12, Lucas Herbert had another birdie look … and drained it!
Wow, he’s to -8 on his round, -8 for the tournament, and only needs one birdie for the first ever 61 in major golf history.
Fri, July 17, 2026 at 3:59 AM PDT
Jay Hart
From just outside nine feet, Herbert dropped his seventh birdie of the day to get to -7. Two more — and no bogeys — and he would card the lowest score ever in a major championship.
Fri, July 17, 2026 at 3:27 AM PDT
Jay Hart
With a 6-under 28 on the front nine, Lucas Herbert has tied The Open record for lowest nine-hole score. Keep in mind, this is the 154th Open Championship, so that’s something.
Fri, July 17, 2026 at 3:22 AM PDT
Jay Hart
Jackson Suber follows up the bogey at 13 with a birdie at 14. He’s hasn’t gotten into red numbers on the day, but he has battled back from four bogeys to hold onto his first-round lead.
Fri, July 17, 2026 at 3:18 AM PDT
Jay Hart
There are low scores to be had so far. Eric Cole is in with a 64, and both Patrick Reed and Lucas Herbert are -5 on their rounds with plenty of holes to play.
Saturday is officially “moving day,” but if you don’t make a move today, it might not matter what you do Saturday.
Fri, July 17, 2026 at 3:16 AM PDT
Jay Hart
Five birdies in seven holes have Patrick Reed to -3. Wow, what a start.
Fri, July 17, 2026 at 3:14 AM PDT
Jay Hart
Birdies at 6, always the hardest hole at Royal Birkdale, are a rarity, and yet that is where Collin Morikawa has just gotten home in 3 to get himself to -4 and a shot off the lead.
Fri, July 17, 2026 at 3:13 AM PDT
Jay Hart
It’s not looking like the U.S. Open champ will be making it to the weekend.
After opening with a birdie, Clark has gone bogey-bogey-bogey to sit at +6, well beyond what it will take to make the cut.
Fri, July 17, 2026 at 2:50 AM PDT
Ryan Young
The top 70 players and ties after today will make the cut. After the opening round, that puts the projected cut at 1-over.
Fri, July 17, 2026 at 2:44 AM PDT
Jay Hart
Rory McIlroy is on the course, and with a birdie at No. 2, has it back to +1.
It was a uneven opening round for McIlroy, who had to scramble to just get it to +2 yesterday. He’s on the edge of the cut line … for now.
Fri, July 17, 2026 at 2:41 AM PDT
Jay Hart
The 44-year-old South African, who hasn’t made a cut at The Open since 2018, has vaulted into a tie for the lead thanks to back-to-back birdies at 11 and 12. He’s carded four birdies on his round against zero bogeys.
And if you had Jackson Suber and Shaun Norris lead The Open Championship … well, no one did.
Fri, July 17, 2026 at 2:34 AM PDT
Jay Hart
It’s time to look at the cut line probabilities, courtesy of DataGolf. The top 70 and ties will make it to the weekend. Here’s where we are currently:
+1 is 53%
+2 is 22%
Even is 17%
The biggest names flirting with the cut now:
+1: Xander Schauffele, Brooks Koepka, Aaron Rai, Patrick Cantlay, Rickie Fowler
+2: Rory McIlroy, Wyndham Clark, Matt Fitzpatrick
Even: Justin Thomas, Viktor Hovland
Fri, July 17, 2026 at 2:30 AM PDT
Ryan Young
It’s going to be another great day at Royal Birkdale today.
The high will reach about 73 degrees with clouds early, which is significantly cooler than Thursday. Winds will reach between 10 and 15 mph, too. The afternoon today should be very interesting.
Fri, July 17, 2026 at 2:28 AM PDT
Jay Hart
Jackson Suber had given up the lead, but back-to-back birdies to start his second nine have him right back where he started — -5, solo leader.
Fri, July 17, 2026 at 2:10 AM PDT
Ryan Young
Since Jackson Suber reached 5-under on Thursday, history shows us that the winner this week will have to have posted an even par or better in the opening round.
Fri, July 17, 2026 at 1:50 AM PDT
Ryan Young
He didn’t end up saving par here, but Rory McIlroy pulled out one of the best shots of the day from his knee on Thursday.
He’s starting today at 2-over.