The Victorian was in the second group out on course for the final round and took full advantage of the benign weather conditions, opening with birdies at the first two holes. He handed those shots back at the 3rd and 4th holes, dropping back to his starting total of seven over.

He then went on a birdie blitz, picking up three in the last four holes of the front nine to turn in 31. The two-time Australian Open champion grabbed three birdies in a row from the 15th.

On the par-5 17th he bludgeoned a 2-iron 267-yards into the green for his second shot and had 30-feet left for his eagle. He gave the putt a run but it slipped by the edge of the cup and he cleaned up the 10-footer coming back.

He admitted after his round he knew he was on track to match the major championship record 62 scored by South African Branden Grace in the third round yesterday if he made eagle on the 17th.

RIGHT: Baddeley says he was happy with his ball-striking and putting during the final round. PHOTO: Getty Images.

“It was really nice today, I played beautifully,” Baddeley said. “I knew I had that putt on 17 to have a chance to shoot 62 … gave it a run and it had a chance but missed.

“Then on 18, just missed the green and I was thinking 63 if I chipped it in.”

He could afford to be aggressive with his play over the closing stages as his putter was running white hot. He had just 26 putts in his closing round, which was a welcomed return to form for Baddeley’s flatstick.

“The improvements I’ve made tee to green this year haven’t really shown on the scoreboard,” he said. “Today was nice because I made some putts, which I haven’t done all year.

“I keyed into something last night working with my coach Brad (Malone), trying to get the set-up right and there was one little thing in the stroke, which we figured out before the round on the putting green and it just got better as the day went on.

“It was great to finally see some putts going in because I have been hitting pretty decent all year.”

BADDELEY'S OPEN SCORECARD

Baddeley’s 64 matched Ian Baker-Finch’s winning final round score in the 1991 Open and saw him finish The Open at one over. When he finished his round, more than two hours before the leaders were due on course, he was tied for 32nd.

The World No.156 does not have a start on the PGA Championship next month, but his stellar final round might just be the turning point of his season. With stronger winds and some rain predicted to hit Royal Birkdale when the leading groups are still on course, Baddeley’s T32 position at the end of his round might improve as the day goes on.

“That would be nice. I really need the FedEx points so hopefully my position improves,” said Baddeley, who was 127th on the FedEx Cup list heading into the Open Championship