Lucas Herbert to play four Australian events including the Open and PGA

A Ripper GC reunion after their LIV team title win is set for Australia after Cameron Smith’s teammates Lucas Herbert and Marc Leishman confirmed they would join their skipper at multiple events across the Australian summer in a bid to snare the major benefits on offer to the order of merit winner.

Herbert, whose final round efforts at the LIV team championship in Dallas last month helped secure the All-Australian team’s $20m payday, is set to take part in multiple events before and after Christmas, including what’s looming as a bumper NSW Open with Smith.

As well as the Australian Open and PGA, Herbert, who plays for $20m in every LIV event, will then tee it up in the Webex Players Series Murray River at Cobram Barooga Golf Club early in 2025, one of the innovative tournaments where men play against women for the one title.

The event will be played on the last weekend in January, a week before the opening event of the LIV season in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It is also before the LIV Adelaide event, which has been shifted to February.

Herbert’s commitments mean he’s eligible to win the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit title, which includes entry into the British Open. The same applies to the top-three finishers at the Australian Open.

 

LIV players can qualify for three of the four majors, with the Masters the only holdout.

“The more major access I can get, the better because, you know, I feel like my game just getting better and better year after yea,” Herbert said.

“And the more times I can play those big events, the more chance I got to, you know, leave the legacy in my career that I want to.

“One of the best attractions about coming to LIV was I was gonna get to play more golf in Australia in front of my friends and family and our home fans, wich, you know, when I turned pro, didn’t think it was ever going to be an option.

“But now it’s definitely an option to play a hell of a hell of a lot more golf back here, which is, it’s going to be good fun.”

The 2023 Australian Open winner, Chilean Joaquin Niemann, who plays on the LIV tour and is returning to defend his title, was granted a special invitation to Augusta based on his efforts in Sydney.

Herbert joins the field for the Australian Open at Kingston Heath and Victoria Golf Clubs. It includes Smith, Adam Scott, Jason Day and Min Woo Lee in the men’s event.

“Winning one would mean the world to me, especially on the Melbourne sandbelt where I have played so much golf and absolutely love teeing it up,” Herbert, a proud Victorian said.

“Kingston Heath and Victoria are incredible courses that I think suit my game perfectly.”

Leishman has never missed a chance to return and chase his maiden Open, which he still thirsts for.

“I’m really happy to be heading home again after what’s been a successful 2024,” he said.

“Finishing my year at the Australian PGA Championship and Australian Open, two events I have always loved playing, is always good fun with great competition and I would love to add to my resume with a big Aussie win.”