Australia’s Lucas Herbert overcame Canada’s Aaron Cockerill in a playoff to win the ISPS HANDA Championship Japan. The 27-year-old Victorian secured his third DP World title after holing a birdie putt from 12 feet at the second extra hole. It was the first event ever to be co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and Japan Golf Tour.
Herbert and Cockerill finished regulation play at 15-under. They finished one shot clear of Scotland’s Calum Hill. Hill posted a final round 5-under 65 to claim solo third place at 14-under. Scotland’s Grant Forrest and Japan’s Hiroshi Iwata were one shot further back at 13-under and in a tie for fourth place.
Herbert started the final round one shot back from Cockerill. The Bendigo product made a birdie at the opening hole before producing a stunning eagle at the par 5, fifth hole to move two shots clear. The margin was reduced to one shot after Herbert made a bogey at the 8th hole. The stage was set for a thrilling back nine. Both players covered the 10th to 12th holes in birdie, bogey and birdie. Cockerill joined Herbert at the top of the leaderboard with his birdie at the 14th hole. Both players made pars at the final four holes to rest at 15-under.
Cockerill looked headed for his maiden DP World title at the first extra hole with his birdie try heading on track towards the hole before a crushing lip-out sent both players back to the tee for the second time. After his errant drive off the tee, the Australian produced a brilliant approach shot to the green and then drained the clutch birdie putt for the win.
It was Herbert’s first win on the DP World Tour since the 2021 Irish Open. He jumps to fourth on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex and is projected to bounce inside the top 50 in world rankings.
The DP World Tour moves to South Korea for next week’s Korean Championship staged at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club.
1. Lucas Herbert -15
2. Aaron Cockerill -15
3. Calum Hill -14
T4. Grant Forrest -13
T4. Hiroshi Iwata -13
Other Australians
70. Brad Kennedy +6
Photo credit: Yoshimasa Nakano/Getty Images
