Although LIV Golf’s record books don’t go back very far, with the league having only been established in 2022, Lucas Herbert played a major role in rewriting them this week after winning the league’s UK stop at JCB Golf & Country Club with a record low score of 30 under par.
Fresh off a tied sixth-place finish at The Open Championship, when he was one of three players to shoot a record-equalling low score in a major of 62, Herbert fired rounds of 61, 66, 69 and 62 to win LIV Golf UK by six shots from Tyrrell Hatton.
Along the way, Herbert also set the league record for most birdies in a single tournament with 30, and the record for most combined birdies and eagles in a tournament with 32.
The 29-year-old Australian credited the belief he built at The Open for carrying his form into this week. “Last week gave me a lot of confidence that I can mix it with the best guys,” he said. “I just wanted to carry that into this week the best I could. I think I got out of my own way the first two rounds and I started thinking about it yesterday. It was just good to play like that today when I was being pushed by two of the best players in the world.”
Herbert also combined with fellow countrymen Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman and Travis Smyth to win the team event for Ripper GC by four shots from Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII team. The all-Aussie squad’s total of 52-under delivered Ripper its third win of the season and first in Europe.
Hatton gave the home fans someone to cheer for, closing with a 9-under 63 to finish runner-up at 24-under. The Legion XIII star was gracious in defeat, quick to credit the player who beat him.
“Lucas played amazingly well today. I wanted to get off to a fast start, which is what I did, but unfortunately Lucas did as well,” Hatton said. “I’m very proud of how I played. It would have been amazing to win in front of home fans, but I tried my best. But Lucas was incredible this week, so hats off to him.”
Bryson DeChambeau also continued his strong recent form with a closing 68, which was good for sole possession of third place at 21-under. His performance also lifted Crushers GC to third on the team leaderboard at 42-under and reduced the gap between him and Jon Rahm for the individual championship. The Spaniard finished down the field in 23rd, which was his lowest ever finish in the league and marked the first time he had been outside the top ten.
TEAM FINAL UNDER THREAT
The LIV Golf UK event ended with rumours widely circulating in the media that the league’s team finale in Michigan is under threat, with reports suggesting that hotel and flight bookings for contractors involved with the set-up have been cancelled, while Cleeks GC captain Martin Kaymer told reporters that the prospect of the team final taking place looked ‘unlikely’ following a meeting with LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil on Wednesday.
The tournament, which traditionally provides a climax to the team element of the league’s season, is due to take place from August 27-August 30 at The Cardinal at Saint John’s in Michigan. Before that, the league has events in New York at Trump Bedminster from August 6-9, and the final individual event at The Club at Chatham Hills in Indianapolis from August 20-23.
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