European TOUR
Irish Open
Aussie Herbert Wins Irish Open
Lucas Herbert held his nerve to score a sensational wire-to-wire victory at the Irish Open. The 25-year-old Australian held the solo lead after every round to become just the second player to complete a wire-to-wire win this season on the European Tour. It is his second European Tour title after claiming the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in 2020.
Herbert produced rounds of 64, 67, 70 and 68 at Mount Juliet Estate to reach 19-under.
The youngster from Bendigo in regional Victoria began the final round holding a narrow one -shot lead over America’s Johannes Veerman. Herbert started strong with birdies at the 2nd and 3rd holes to pull away to a three-shot lead. He turned in 1-under 35 after carding a bogey at the 5th hole. With his lead back to one shot with half of the round to play, Herbert produced clutch golf on the inward nine firing three unanswered birdies. He overcame Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg by three shots.
Karlberg, aged 34, was searching for his first win on the European since 2015. The one-time European Tour winner closed with a flawless 5-under 67 to assume outright second place at 16-under. The sensational round included three birdies at the closing four holes.
Veerman, who began the week ranked 350 in the world, signed for a final round 1-under 71 to get to 15-under. The 29-year-old took outright third place for his best-ever finish on the European Tour.
Five players enjoyed a share of fourth place at 14-under. They were England’s Richard Bland (67) and Dale Whitnell (69), Scotland’s Grant Forrest (68) and Richie Ramsay (68) and Italy’s Francesco Laporta (69).
Marquee player Rory McIlroy struggled over the weekend with over par rounds of 73 and 74. The former world No. 1 fell back to a tie for 59th place.
The European Tour moves to The Renaissance Club in North Berwick for the Scottish Open. Five players from the world ‘s top 10 will contend including world No. 1 Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas (No. 3), Collin Morikawa (No. 4), Xander Schauffele (No. 5) and Rory McIlroy (No. 10).
Final Scores
Irish Open
1. Lucas Herbert -19
2. Rikard Karlberg -16
3. Johannes Veerman -15
T4. Richard Bland -14
T4. Grant Forrest -14
T4. Francesco Laporta -14
T4. Richie Ramsay -14
T4. Dale Whitnell -14
Other Australians
T9. Jason Scrivener -13
T17. Min Woo Lee -10
T28. Maverick Antcliff -8
MC. Wade Ormsby
MC. Jake McLeod
MC. Scott Hend
Photo credit: Patrick Bolger/ Getty Images
