Lucas Herbert successfully qualified for the 153rd Open Championship, giving Australia a nine-strong contingent at Royal Portrush.
Herbert will play only his second major golf championship in two years after dominating final qualifying at West Lancashire with an eight-under-par total over two rounds to clinch medalist honors by one stroke ahead of China’s Sampson Zheng.
Since joining compatriots Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman on LIV Golf’s Ripper GC team last year, the 2024 PGA Championship, where he tied for 43rd, was Herbert’s only major appearance.
But the reigning NSW Open champion has been the team’s most consistent player this year. However, he narrowly missed out on securing an exemption to the Australian and New Zealand Open as well as the International Series Macau earlier this season.
“I’m very excited to be going to Portrush. I love playing at the Open,” Herbert said.
“For us Australians, it was the major tournament that we watched overnight growing up. It’s really cool to play in another tournament and join my teammates, Cam Smith and Marc Leishman.
“I made it difficult for myself before by missing qualifying before, but I finally got there. I had chances in Australia, Macau and New Zealand and I couldn’t finish, so it definitely tested my patience.”
“I’m glad it finally stuck.”
Herbert was the only Australian across four qualifying sites to earn a place at the July 17-20 Open.
As well as Smith and the resurgent Leishman, the 29-year-old joins Jason Day, Min Woo Lee, Adam Scott, Australasian Tour Order of Merit winner Elvis Smylie, Curtis Luck and New Zealand Open champion Ryan Peake in the final major of the season.
After making his U.S. major debut halfway at the PGA Championship in May at Quail Hollow, Smylie said he was also excited for Portrush.
The 23-year-old pored over footage from the course and studied Irishman Shane Lowry’s famous victory in 2019, when Smith was the only Australian to take part in the weekend.
“I watch the official film that they make every year. Just watching it gives me goosebumps,” Smylie said on a Zoom call ahead of next week’s Scottish Open.
“I’m really excited to welcome the Northern Irish crowd with Rory and Shane Lowry and a handful of other top players.
“It’ll be really cool.”
PAA
