Ryan Fox became the third player to match the best-ever score at a men's major at the current edition of The Open, ending Saturday's third round within two strokes of leader Sam Burns.

On Friday, both Burns and Lucas Herbert carded record-equalling scores of 62, with the latter assuming the 36-hole lead.

Only four players had previously achieved a score of 62 at a men's major – Branden Grace at The Open in 2017, Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler at the 2023 U.S. Open, then Schauffele and Shane Lowry at the 2024 PGA Championship. 

Fox managed nine birdies and just one bogey as he joined that exclusive club, gaining shots on seven of the first 10 holes.

Like Herbert, who had a fine opportunity to card a 61 on Friday but missed his putt on the 18th, Fox could have set a new outright record, but after finding the bunker off the tee on the final hole, he needed two attempts to putt from 48 feet. 

"I probably didn't think about it too much until I got up and down on 14 for birdie," Fox told BBC Sport when asked about the record.

"I got a little lucky on the last, to have a shot out of the fairway bunker. I clipped the very top of the lip with my second shot and wasn't quite sure how it ended up where it did, but I was happy to see it go forward. It was a nervy first putt, but I was happy to see the second one go in. 

A third record-equalling 62 at The 154th Open.

Ryan Fox writes his name in history. pic.twitter.com/PQ05HSdmNR

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 18, 2026

"I had a lot of fun and it's nice knowing I'm going to be in the mix. I'm going to have a chance to win The Open, which is pretty exciting.

"It'll be pretty nerve wracking out there, but being aggressive in the last couple of days has served me well. I'll try to do the same and hope it works out."

It is Burns that holds the advantage with 18 holes to go, though, after last month's U.S. Open runner-up followed up Friday's 62 with a five-under 65 to reach 10 under overall.

Burns had been three over following the first round, so his 13-under score across the last 36 holes is the best such performance in men's major history.

Sam Burns has himself in position for a huge Sunday finish @TheOpen after posting the lowest consecutive 36 holes in major championship history. pic.twitter.com/N84xZ8Hb26

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 18, 2026

Like Fox, South Korea's Kim Si-woo is also two shots behind Burns, having produced back-to-back rounds of 67 after starting with a two-under 68.

He revealed after his third round that he has struggled with Achilles issues throughout the tournament, saying: "The last couple days, it was on the right Achilles. 

"Today, it was left Achilles. Somehow, I have to twist it. It's so hard. It wasn't hurting last week, and it started killing me the last couple days. Hopefully it gets better tomorrow."

Herbert had a more disappointing day, finishing one over to drop three strokes behind the leader, level with Ryan Gerard.

Three players ended the day a stroke further back, with Bryson DeChambeau responding to the two-shot penalty he received for inadvertently improving his lie on Friday with a one-under 69, going level with Ludvig Aberg and Jackson Suber.

Tommy Fleetwood and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen are tied another shot back, with Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Shane Lowry and John Rahm among nine players at four under for the tournament.