Staff WriterLucas Herbert’s Japan win at the International Series presented by Moutai wasn’t just a masterclass in front-running—it was a statement.
The Ripper GC man didn’t just hold on; he surged, swooping from behind late Saturday and closing with a surgical 64 on Sunday to seal a five-shot victory at Caledonian Golf Club.
It was Herbert’s second win on Japanese soil—the last coming at the ISPS Handa Championship in 2023—and it felt every bit as significant.
The strength of the field was very good here this week. I have played in Japan a few times over the years, and the field strength is always good.
“It’s tricky. It feels like I am playing an away game against these guys on their home turf. Their games are all structured and built to play really well on Japanese courses. So it is tough to beat them at their own game at times.
“That’s why the two wins I have had in Japan have felt quite special, because it feels like winning an away game like in other sports when you are beating these guys on their home venues, against home crowds too.”
After a course record-tying 62 on Thursday, the Aussie appeared untouchable. But a Saturday stumble left him five shots back with just three holes to play.
Cue the fireworks: two eagles in the final three holes catapulted him into a three-way share of the lead heading into the final round.
From there, he never looked back.
The win nets Herbert 180 points, vaulting him 20 spots to No.1 in both the International Series Rankings and Asian Tour Order of Merit—22.95 clear of Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz, who won in Macau. Ollie Schniederjans sits third despite missing Japan through injury, with LIV stars Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed sharing fourth.
Yuta Sugiura (Japan) and Younghan Song (Korea) both finished runners-up and cracked the top 10 in the season standings, bumping Abraham Ancer and Jason Kokrak down a peg.
Canada’s Richard T Lee holds the 10th spot, while Schniederjans eyes a return for International Series Morocco (July 3–6).
With top performers gunning for a guaranteed spot in next season’s LIV Golf League, Lucas Herbert’s Japan win might prove more than a moment of brilliance—it could be the turning point in a career-defining campaign.
