The Open 2017: Branden Grace cards lowest round in Major history with 62

The South African shot 62 at Royal Birkdale to break the record held by a host of players.

Justin Thomas was the latest to post 63 - at US Open venue Erin Hills last month - while Phil Mickelson and eventual winner Henrik Stenson both shot such a score in last year's Open at Royal Troon.

Grace's round was eight under the course par of 70. Several of the 29 rounds of 63 were nine under.

Much calmer conditions on the Lancashire coast were in Grace's favour and the round saw him surge onto the leaderboard. He claimed the clubhouse lead at four under - just two behind leader Jordan Spieth, who was not even on the course as Grace finished.

Grace, who only made the halfway cut with a shot to spare, had been 300/1 for the Claret Jug at the start of play with Sky Bet but his odds were into 28/1 by the time he had finished his round.

The 29-year-old made the ideal start with a birdie on the first in benign conditions which were in stark contrast to the wind and torrential rain which forced a brief suspension of play on Friday afternoon.

Further birdies on the fourth, fifth, eighth and ninth took Grace to the turn in 29, matching the front nine of Matt Kuchar on day one, before a run of four straight pars appeared to have halted his momentum.

However, the world number 35 then holed from 35 feet on the 14th and 16th and two-putted the par-five 17th to reach eight under par for the day.

With history on the line, Grace's approach to the last ran just off the back of the green, but he calmly two-putted from long range to complete a brilliant round.

"I didn't know what was going on on 18. I promise you," said the 29-year-old.

"I was just so in the zone of playing hole after hole. I knew I was obviously playing really well, and making the turn in five-under was pretty special.

"I thought if I could make a couple more on the back nine, then it's going to be a great score - I had no idea that 62 was the lowest ever.

"My whole thing on the 18th was trying just not to make bogey but when I knocked in the two-footer or three-footer (for par) Zack came up and said 'You're in the history books' and I was like 'What are you talking about?'

"He never said anything (before that) so good on him but it was the first thing he told me so obviously he must have known.

"Now it makes the day even sweeter.

"I can't remember when last I did shoot a number like this to be quite honest. I've had in this year a couple of five unders but I haven't had a number like this."

Rasego is used to the limelight having caddied for fellow South Africa Louis Oosthuizen when he won the 2010 Open at St Andrews before returning to work for Grace for a second time.

However, Grace admits the pair had to have a heart-to-heart at last week's Scottish Open in order to try to kick-start a lacklustre season.

"We actually had a good chat and I told him we need to start communicating again. I feel we're playing well but it's just not happening," he added.

"We had a good chat and it's been working ever since."

American Johnny Miller, the first man to shoot 63 in a major, made the point Birkdale was playing as easy as an Open course could do with clear skies, no wind and receptive greens after heavy rainfall on Friday.

"He played really well. He had 28 putts - 28 putts is quite a few putts for someone who shoots 62," he told the Golf Channel.

"The course was set up really, really easy, but it was still a heck of a round."

Almost as soon as Grace's historic putt dropped, the debate ignited about the value of a 62 on a par-70 course compared to the efforts of a number of players who had shot 63 on a course with a higher par.

"Talking about this can go on forever," said Grace.

"It's like when somebody plays on a 70 shoots a 59. I've shot 12-under on a links golf course and I've shot 60 - I've actually bettered that score that person has done.

"I'm just happy shooting a good round at a special tournament and on a great day.

"But whether you shoot 63, 62 or 60 you have to do something right and things have to go your way to be able to do that.

"I'm not going to take anything away from a guy shooting 63 on a (par) 72 or anything of what I did today."

With Birkdale at its most vulnerable, Grace was asked about the likelihood of his record being broken within a few hours with the leaders not out until late afternoon.

"I'm going to enjoy it for now while it lasts," added the South African.