Herbert leads Open at Royal Birkdale as Europeans target penalised DeChambeau
Australian Lucas Herbert holds the lead at Royal Birkdale after a record-equalling 62, setting up a tense third round where European golfers face a narrow window to challenge an American frontrunner sidelined by a rules penalty.
Australian Lucas Herbert has taken the lead at the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale, posting a record-equalling 62 in his second round. He will tee off in the final group at 15:50 BST on Saturday alongside American Jackson Suber.
American Bryson DeChambeau was positioned just one shot behind the leader after a spectacular 68, but rules officials penalised him two strokes. Officials issued the penalty after determining he improved his lie in the rough on the fifth hole. This ruling casts doubt on whether the American will choose to play his third round.
This sudden shift at the top of the leaderboard opens a critical window for European contenders. Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy carded a much-improved 67 to reach one under par, teeing off at 12:20 alongside Jacob Bridgeman.
Spain’s Jon Rahm and English favourite Tommy Fleetwood are paired together for a 14:35 tee time. Italy’s Francesco Molinari, the 2018 Open Champion, plays alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler at 14:45. Scheffler struggled to make birdies on Friday, finishing his second round at four under par.
The tournament’s third round carries substantial commercial weight as the final men’s major of the year. Sky Sports maintains exclusive broadcasting rights across the UK and Ireland, leveraging the event to drive subscriber engagement with continuous coverage starting at 09:00 on its dedicated golf channel.
Early play will be distributed across Sky Sports+ and the Sky Sports App before full coverage begins at 11:00. Featured groups are also available digitally, reflecting the broadcaster's strategy to capture both traditional television audiences and mobile viewers ahead of Sunday’s final round.
Several other European players remain in contention as the weekend progresses. Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg pairs with Ireland’s Shane Lowry at 14:15, while England’s Tyrrell Hatton and France’s Victor Perez tee off at 13:55.
With the American frontrunner compromised by a rules penalty, the pressure is now firmly on the European chasing pack. A strong Saturday performance will be essential for any home contender to reach the final round in a viable position.
