Real reason Lucas Herbert's caddie used a rangefinder during record 62 at The Open

Jul 18, 2026, 10:30 AM CUT

RECORD DATE NOT STATED 17th July 2026 Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, Merseyside, England The Open Championship Day Two Lucas Herbert AUS and his caddie Nick Pugh on the 18th fairway as he completes his round of 62 DavidxBlunsden

A rangefinder at The Open Championship sounds like a two-shot penalty waiting to happen. It turned out to be nothing of the sort once you heard the explanation.

Lucas Herbert's caddie, Nick Pugh, was spotted using a rangefinder on the 14th tee during Herbert's second round at Royal Birkdale on Friday, July 17. The Australian had just torn through the front nine with a course-record 28, equaling the lowest-ever Open front nine. He was on his way to a 62 that matched the lowest round in men's major championship history.

Distance-measuring devices are prohibited in competition at The Open under R&A rules. Players and caddies are banned from obtaining distance information electronically. The PGA of America permits rangefinders at the PGA Championship.

SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND - JULY 17: Lucas Herbert AUS shakes hands with his caddie Nick Pugh on the 18th green after shooting an eight under par 62 during Round 2 of the 154th Open Championship at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport on July 17, 2026 in Merseyside, England The 154th British Open Championship

But the Open and the U.S. Open do not. A breach would typically result in a two-shot penalty, which, for a moment on Friday, is exactly what observers feared was coming. Rich Beem and Andrew Colhart, two commentators, noticed the same and waited for a ruling on the matter.

Today's Golfer asked Pugh after the round to explain the rangefinder. His answer covered everything. "On LIV Golf, we're allowed to use a rangefinder for distance-measuring purposes," Pugh said. "I obviously know that we can't do it here or at the US Open. But there was another player at the US Open that his caddie was given the OK to use a rangefinder without the battery in."

Pugh said he had cleared it with the R&A before the tournament began. "I enquired very early on in the week with the R&A, one of the rules officials. I gave him a heads-up," he said. "It obviously went to the powers that be. It went right to the very top, and I was given the green light. So, I informed our playing partners on the first tee yesterday."

The device had no battery inside, making it a piece of plastic rather than a functioning measuring tool, and therefore no violation of R&A rules.

Pugh then explained the personal reason he carries it at all.

"I'll be honest with you guys, my eyesight isn't great. The glasses aren't just there to make me look cool," Pugh said. "I sometimes struggle when the ball comes down. I mean, this guy hits it a long way. He hits it 380 yards yesterday with a 3-wood. And if he wants to know if the ball's in the bunker or not, these old eyes don't see it so well. So, I'll generally use the rangefinder, which pretty clearly has no battery inside."

Lucas Herbert's caddie reveals the real story behind the rangefinder

Herbert's 62 equaled the record for the lowest round in a men's major championship.

He finished with a bogey after missing a four-footer that would have set a new record outright. The round vaulted him to the top of the leaderboard at Royal Birkdale heading into the weekend.

Herbert would become the first Australian to win The Open at Birkdale since Ian Baker-Finch in 1991 if he holds on through two more rounds.

Do you think he can carry Friday's momentum into the weekend?

Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar