Lucas Herbert keeps hopes alive with remarkable recovery
Updated ,first published
South port: Lucas Herbert’s quest to become the second Australian to win the British Open in 33 years was in danger of ending with a lucky fall on the 17th hole on Saturday and one of the biggest shots of his life that may have saved his title hopes.
The Australian, who broke the record with 62 points on Friday, finished the day 7 points behind with a 1-under-par 71 card and finished fourth at Royal Birkdale in England.
His two-shot overnight lead disappeared early; Despite the tough competition, Herbert will start Sunday’s final round three shots behind American Sam Burns, who leads by 10 points.
Herbert will bat in the third-last group at 2pm (11pm AEST) on Sunday alongside Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg; Australia’s Min Woo Lee (17:50 AEST), Adam Scott (19:40 AEST) and Cameron John (22:05 AEST) will be the other Aussies in action.
St. John’s first major is going great after shooting 71 on Saturday to move to 4-under for 11th place, while Scott (-1) and Lee (+2) will need a miracle to get into contention.
“I got off to a bit of a shaky start and then consolidated really nicely in the middle,” Herbert said. “The things I’m about to learn are frustrating. [from]But I have a lot of positive things to pass on to tomorrow.
Herbert was a clear one-shot lead at nine-under after 13 holes but things turned around when Burns birdied the 14th and the Australian made a mediocre tee shot at the par-three 15th before settling for bogey.
It was a tough day, other than the t-shirt. Herbert hit just 35.7 percent of the fairways and relied on a steady short game after hitting only two-thirds of the greens in regulation.
After back-to-back bogeys at the 15th and 16th, Herbert’s biggest test came on the par-5 17th.
After another wild drive, Herbert found himself out of bounds with a bad lie and had to take a penalty kick. After a long discussion with the rules officials he was given two club lengths which gave him enough room to make a bold shot around a tree.
What happens next could be the defining moment of the tournament.
Facing 223 yards from thick rough to a blind green, Herbert produced a remarkable three-iron that finished safely behind the putting green. The birdie putt flew by him, but escaping with par was almost as valuable.
“I had a bit of an aggressive streak on the 17th. I was chasing that impulse. I wanted to be an Eagle and get into the last group and be there,” said Herbert.
“Two club lengths were right on the edge of where I could bat and get a decent lie. We were literally arguing over a leg, but it was pretty significant in the grand scheme of things.”
“I have a feeling… I can hit something really special here and try to swing the momentum the other way. I had just made two bogeys.”
“This was one of those shots you kept dwelling on [where it was like] This will either be incredible, or if I hit the reeds in front of me and score a double-digit score on that hole, it could be the end of my tournament. I’m happy it came out.”
Herbert then made another par in the last over after receiving free relief following another errant drive to the left, signing a 71 that left him one shot behind New Zealand’s Ryan Fox and Si Woo Kim, who was second at eight under.
Herbert said of the world number 18: “I think Sam Burns will be a man possessed. Given his results in the majors and his inability to win any of them, I think he will be very difficult to beat.”
“I’m not excited about giving him a three-shot advantage, but we’re where we are. I’d love to play my second-best round of the week tomorrow, shoot below par and throw myself in with a look. I loved the whole feeling of being in contention and competing this week.”
“Honestly, pulling a 62 yesterday and all the emotions I felt [come with that] …I can only imagine it would be similar if [I am] He is fighting to win tomorrow. “I want to experience that because it’s what I dream about when I grow up and that’s why I play the game.”
Ian Baker-Finch, the last Australian to win the Open at Royal Birkdale in 1991, walked the course watching Herbert’s lap.
Only Greg Norman (1993) and Cam Smith (2022) have lifted the Claret Jug since Baker-Finch’s victory in 1991, but Herbert believes there is still time for one last push.
When Smith won at St Andrews four years ago, he survived a disappointing third round and shot one straight before claiming the title with a stunning 64.
It was a parallel Herbert had already thought about as he walked toward 18th Street.
“I’d like to make some passes there if it’s going to work,” Herbert said. “That would make a nice little story, wouldn’t it?”
McIlroy attacks DeChambeau for rules violation
Grand slam winner Rory McIlroy has launched a stunning attack on Bryson DeChambeau, accusing the LIV Golf star of holding the British Open “hostage” during a “performative” encounter with officials after two shots were fired on Friday evening.
These extraordinary comments came less than 24 hours after DeChambeau threatened to withdraw from the championship at Royal Birkdale following a penalty for improving the intended backswing area on the fifth hole.
Despite the drama, DeChambeau recovered to finish six under par with a 1-under-par 69 on Saturday and move into a tie for sixth place in the final round.
Officials ruled Friday that DeChambeau improved the intended backswing zone before playing his shot hard, but acknowledged the violation was unintentional.
The American was escorted to the fifth hole after his second round to argue his case with rules officials; His manager later insisted that DeChambeau was not a cheat and never tried to gain an unfair advantage.
Lengthy discussions delayed the announcement of third-round kickoff times and left players, caddies, volunteers and officials waiting until late Friday night for the draw to finally be confirmed. Some competitors still didn’t know when they would start at 10.45pm.
After falling nine shots behind with a 69 on Saturday, McIlroy offered a sobering assessment of both the incident and DeChambeau’s response.
“I was watching the game in the ballpark with a few of the players and as soon as he stepped on the ball we all looked at each other and thought it didn’t look right,” McIlroy said. “Then when I heard he was called by the rules officials…it was pretty obvious why.
“I think there’s no doubt that he’s improved his line of goal. Again, whether it’s careless or intentional, I don’t think it matters. I hope he’s careless, but I think the two-shot penalty is absolutely justified.”
McIlroy and DeChambeau had shared a frosty relationship for several years, especially since the American’s departure from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf. McIlroy was one of LIV’s most vocal critics at the height of golf’s civil war, and although tensions between the rival tours have eased in recent years his recent comments suggested little warmth remained between the pair.
The six-time major champion made it clear he has little sympathy for DeChambeau.
“I’m not going to stand here and pretend to defend Bryson. I don’t really like him,” McIlroy said. “I think a lot of it was for performance purposes. I think a lot of it was for attention. Holding the tournament hostage like that and having all of us, players, volunteers, everyone waiting for him to leave, I didn’t think it was a great look.”
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Tom Decent is chief sports writer for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect with: X or email.
