In a display of sheer mastery under the Melbourne sun, local hero Lucas Herbert dialled up his game to extend his lead at the prestigious ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
By the time Friday’s shadows lengthened over Kingston Heath Golf Club, Herbert had notched a four-shot lead, a feat that left the spectators buzzing and his competitors trailing in the dust.
Herbert, a three-time DP World Tour victor, kicked off the tournament with a svelte one-shot lead after a stellar 63 at Victoria Golf Club on Thursday.
But it was on Friday that he truly set the course alight. He burst from the gates with an eagle and a pair of birdies in the opening three holes, a sequence that sent a clear message: Lucas Herbert came to play.
Despite the growing gales that might have unsettled lesser spirits, Herbert held his nerve with six steady pars.
A hiccup on the tenth, where he carded his first bogey of the tournament, briefly trimmed his lead to a mere whisper of a shot.
Yet, true to form, a clutch 12-foot putt on the same hole kept the wolves at bay.
Undeterred, Herbert found himself briefly cornered again at the 12th, yet he deftly escaped with a par save from six feet.
The drama continued as he strung together a triumphant trio of birdies on the 13th, 14th, and 15th holes, wrapping up the day with a sparkling 66.
By the round’s end, he stood 14-under par, a man clearly in command of his game and the leaderboard.
Lucas Herbert: “I thought it was funny, “I played pretty good yesterday, just didn’t really putt that well and then felt like I putted really well today, scrambled really well and the rest of the game was sort of off. It was like two days of polar opposites to have good scores. So yeah, it was nice for my putting to turn up when I needed it.
I’m really proud of those last three or four holes there. 16, tee shot’s, not an easy one. 18 tee shot, not an easy one under the circumstances and I thought I handled them really, really well. So yeah, very, very nice.
I don’t know Victoria as well, but Kingston Heath, I’ve played here so many times. Pughy (his caddie) walked the course earlier in the week and I’m almost telling him how to play this golf course after he’s done all the preparation you could possibly do.
So yeah, feel super comfortable out here. Feel like I know a lot of lines off tees and how little shots play here and there and just a lot of, I’m going to say quirks, but lots of little local knowledge things that you need to kind of know around this course with different pins and different winds and that kind of stuff.
So I feel quite comfortable that I’ve played enough here that I know most of them.”
Chasing Herbert’s impressive lead is the American newcomer Ryggs Johnston, who rebounded from an earlier sluggish performance to post a 68, positioning himself at ten-under.
Hot on his heels is a clutch of skilled players, including last week’s winner Elvis Smylie, Americans Harry Higgs and Jordan Gumberg, alongside Finland’s Oliver Lindell, England’s Matt Southgate, and Austria’s Lukas Nemecz.
Amid the thrills of the men’s competition, the ISPS HANDA Australian Open is also playing host to the women’s Australian Open and the Australian All Abilities Championship.
In the women’s bracket, amateur Hyojin Yang of Korea delicately holds a one-shot lead at nine under par.
Meanwhile, Korea’s Simon Seungmin Lee enjoys a six-shot cushion over the world number one Kipp Popert of England in a compelling Australian All Abilities Championship showdown.
As the tournament heads into the weekend, all eyes are on Herbert. Can he maintain his lead and charm his home crowd with a win?
Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain—Lucas Herbert is not just playing; he’s changing the game at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
