[PHOTO: Golf NSW]

LIV Golf star Lucas Herbert credits a runner-up result at a NSW Open early in his career with instilling a belief he belonged at the top end of professional golf.

Now, the three-time DP World Tour winner and one-time PGA Tour champion – who plays on LIV Golf with Cameron Smith‘s Ripper GC side – is returning to the event that helped launched his game. Ironically, the 2024 Ford NSW Open happens to be Murray Downs Golf & Country Club, on the NSW side of the Murray River and only two hours’ drive from Herbert’s hometown of Bendigo.

Superstar Smith and Herbert are the headliners for the $800,000 Ford NSW Open this week, part of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.

In 2017 at Twin Creeks in Sydney, Herbert was second by six shots to NSW Open champion Jason Scrivener but final moments were closer than they appeared. Inspired, Herbert went on to play with former world No.1 Jason Day in the final group at the Australian Open and with reigning Masters champ Sergio Garcia at the Australian PGA. He was T-6 and T-7, respectively.

“I remember [the 2017 NSW Open] being a bit of a moment in my career where I took a next step up,” Herbert said at Murray Downs today. “The following two weeks I played with Jason Day at the Aussie Open on the weekend and Sergio at the Aussie PGA. Within my team, we talk about the fact I probably grew up two years in two weekends. I learned so much, and learned that my game was on the right track.

“I really benefited from seeing how Jason and Sergio played and how my game stacked up against them. I felt like, while I wasn’t there yet, I was on the right track and potentially how I could get that good. The 2017 NSW Open up I have very fond memories of. Coming back here, some of these, some of these kids probably haven’t played with players at the at the top level to really compare and see where their game matches up. I think it’s quite satisfying to feel like you’ve helped them and had an impact and maybe give them some small piece of advice that helps them along the way.”

Herbert playing in the pro-am at the NSW Open on Wednesday. [Photo: Golf NSW]

Herbert is also feeling great about his game after his debut season on LIV Golf, where he helped the all-Australian Ripper GC side to a season-long teams victory. Herbert felt he improved his overall game learning under 2022 Open champion Smith, as well as teammates Marc Leishman, and Matt Jones – both multiple PGA Tour winners before LIV.

The 28-year-old Herbert was massive for the Ripper GC’s consistency and his play towards the end of the individual season, closing with two straight top-10 results at Greenbrier and Chicago, as well as some crucial results in the teams championship in Dallas, helped Ripper GC post their first season-long victory. When Herbert played outside LIV, he was solid with two top-10s in International Series events on the Asian Tour as well as a T-43 at the PGA Championship at Valhalla.

“I feel like I’m now experiencing maybe [something similar to] what a what an AFL player feels winning a premiership in a team,” Herbert said. “I knew what it felt like having individual success, but winning as a team like it’s such a different beast. You’re out there looking at the scoreboard, feeling like, ‘I don’t want to be the guy who lets the team down.’

“When you’re playing individually, you can care a lot less, but in that team environment it’s really cool, and it’s definitely inspired, and made me play better at those certain pivotal moments. The boys keep calling me the Gladiator, which I’m not really sure how to feel about that [laughs].”