04 Jul 2021 | Professional golf |
Herbert chasing history in Ireland
by Contributor
By Bernie McGuire at Mt Juliet
Lucas Herbert is just one round from joining some of the greats of European Tour golf in capturing the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open near Kilkenny. The 25-year-old Bendigo-born golfer posted a two-under par 70 to head to the final round leading by one shot at 15 under par on the Jack Nicklaus designed Mount Juliet course. American Johannes Veerman signed for a 67 to be in second place at 14 under par. Herbert has led from day one as he seeks to capture a second European Tour title after his breakthrough victory on Australia Day 2020 in winning the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Herbert battled the bright but very windy afternoon conditions in recording four birdies, including birdies at the par-5 fifth, eighth and 10th holes for three days running, and just two bogeys. The Australian, in fact, is 11 under par over the three days on the par fives and with Herbert’s only hiccup being bogeys for two of three days on the par-three 11th hole and also dropping a shot for a second day running at the par-three 14th. “I played okay. In one aspect, it's kind of frustrating. I could have really put a good one away and felt like I got too far away from the majority of the field, but 15 probably has just left the door open a touch,” he said. “So, I’m still going to have to really be on it tomorrow. Also, it was pretty tough out there. The back nine the wind was swirling and blowing a lot. Didn't hit a lot of bad shot. Couldn't quite get some putts to fall. “I felt like I played all right but just didn't get the reward for it. Overall, I can't be to upset”. Herbert heads into round four also seeking to become only the third Aussie in the 66-year history to win the Irish Open title following Ossie Pickworth’s triumph at Royal Dublin in 1950 and Brett Rumford’s success in 2004 at Baltray. Long-time World No. 1 Greg Norman teed-up in the 1995 Irish Open when last held at Mount Juliet but with Norman a distant 11th but only two shots behind Scotland’s wily Sam Torrance. A Herbert victory would see him join the legendary likes of Bobby Locke, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy as winners of the Irish Open. “It would be a pretty cool one to achieve. A win's a win, right,” said Herbert. “It doesn't kind of matter how you do it. Everyone gets lucky or unlucky with the days they play well and the days they don't play well. “To win the Irish Open would be really cool, whether it's wire-to-wire or not. I think it would be a really cool one to put on your resume that you've won the Irish Open. “The Irish Open is pretty cool and if you can win an event with Tommy Fleetwood and Rory in the field, I don't think anyone's going to try to knock that out of your possession any time soon. “So yeah, tomorrow is a massive chance, and you know, obviously I think in time to come I'll probably look back on it and realise it more, but at the moment, I'm trying to stay pretty focused on the moment and really feel like I just play my game and let that sort of take care of itself.” And there is, of course, the matter of entry into next fortnight’s rescheduled 149th Open Championship and Herbert needing to finish top-3 among those not already exempt Looking at the pointed end of the third-round leaderboard, South African Justin Harding, and in third place on 12-under par, is the only player already exempt into Royal St. George’s.
CAMERON Davis is in contention at the US PGA Tour's Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit. The 2017 Australian Open champion from Sydney shot a third-round 67 and at 13 under par, is just a shot from the lead with a round to play.
DIMI PAPADATOS is one back with a round to play of the Challenge Tour event in the Czech Republic.