Australian golfer Lucas Herbert held his nerve to claim his first LIV Golf League title and secure a coveted spot in next month's US Open in New York. The 30-year-old from Bendigo, Victoria, won LIV Golf Virginia at Trump National Golf Club in Washington, D.C., earning a $US4 million ($A5.54 million) winner's cheque.
Dramatic Final Round
Herbert entered the final round with a five-shot lead, but saw it slashed to just one after a double bogey on the ninth hole. Spanish great Sergio Garcia applied pressure, but Herbert regained his composure to close with a three-under-par 69, winning by four shots. Garcia finished second, one shot ahead of American Bryson DeChambeau.
Wire-to-Wire Victory
Herbert's triumph was a wire-to-wire victory, marking the first individual LIV Golf win for the all-Australian Ripper GC outfit. Teammates Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, and Elvis Smylie celebrated with a champagne shower on the 18th green. Smith, a three-time LIV winner, had not won since 2022, while Leishman won in Miami last year and Smylie triumphed in Riyadh in February.
Overcoming Illness
Herbert was too ill to complete a full practice round before the event, but showcased resilience throughout the week. "Probably that I can perform pretty damn well when things aren't perfect," he said. "I was pretty sick all week and I woke up this morning probably feeling worse than I did the last few days. I had Sergio coming at me for 36 holes really hard and he pushed me the whole way, made me earn that one."
Key Moments
Herbert birdied four of his first eight holes to build a five-shot lead, but then overcooked his nine-iron on the par-3 ninth, needing three chip shots to reach the green. He carded a double bogey as Garcia drained a 30-foot birdie putt, resulting in a three-shot swing. Herbert's lead was cut to two at the turn, and then to one when Garcia birdied the 10th. However, Herbert holed a testing 12-foot downhill putt on the 11th while Garcia missed a shorter birdie attempt, restoring a two-shot cushion. He extended his lead with a birdie on the 12th and another on the 15th, while Garcia bogeyed the 13th.
Seventh Professional Win
Herbert's victory is his seventh professional win, and he has now won on the US PGA Tour, Europe's DP World Tour, and in Australasia. The win also earns him a spot in the US Open at Winged Foot in June. "I didn't help myself," he admitted. "I missed a few putts here and there and made it a contest late, but after the rain delay, the way I played those eight shots, I'm so proud of that and can't wait to celebrate with everyone tonight."
