Branden Grace made history at Royal Birkdale in the third round of the 2017 British Open Championship, shooting the first 62 in a men's major championship.
The South African golfer carded a 5-under 29 on the front nine and finished with a 62 on the par-70 layout. It was a round that immediately reset the standard for what was possible on one of golf’s most demanding stages.
The benchmark at Royal Birkdale
Before Grace, the best major round at Royal Birkdale had been Jodie Mudd’s 63 in the fourth round of the 1991 British Open at Birkdale. Grace’s score lowered that mark by one shot and became the reference point for later major-championship scoring feats.
The broader history shows how rare the number is. Over a 118-year history, sub-63 rounds in men's majors have remained exceptional, and Grace’s 62 stood out because it was the first of its kind in a major championship.
Who else has joined the club
Since Grace’s round, a handful of players have matched or challenged that standard in major championship play. Justin Thomas shot 63 in the third round of the 2017 US Open and set the championship record for best single round in relation to par. In 2023, Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele each shot 62 in the first round of the US Open at Los Angeles Country Club.
In 2024, Schauffele added another 62, shooting 9-under in the first round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. Two days later, Shane Lowry also shot 62 at Valhalla. More recently, Kurt Kitayama shot 8-under 62 in the final round of the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club, while Haeran Ryu posted 11-under 60 in the third round of the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club.
Even with those later low rounds, Grace’s place in the record book remains clear. At Royal Birkdale, he produced the first 62 in a men's major championship, and that performance still serves as the course’s defining scoring benchmark.
