Updated ,first published
Southport: Lucas Herbert’s quest to become just the second Australian to win the British Open in 33 years threatened to unravel on Saturday before a fortunate drop on the 17th hole — and one of the greatest shots of his life — may have saved his championship hopes.
The Australian, who shot a record-equalling 62 on Friday, carded a one-over-par 71 to finish the day at seven-under, tied for fourth at Royal Birkdale in England.
His two-shot overnight lead disappeared early; despite a gritty fightback, Herbert will start Sunday’s final round three shots behind American Sam Burns, who leads at 10-under.
Herbert will tee off at 2pm on Sunday (11pm AEST) alongside Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg in the third-last group, while Australians Min Woo Lee (5.50pm AEST), Adam Scott (7.40pm AEST) and Cameron John (10.05pm AEST) are the other Australians in action.
John’s maiden major is going wonderfully after he shot 71 on Saturday to get to four-under in a tie for 11th, while Scott (-1) and Lee (+2) will need a miracle to get in contention.
“I had somewhat of a shaky start and then consolidated really nicely through the middle,” Herbert said. “It’s frustrating stuff I’ll learn [from], but I got a lot of positive things to roll into tomorrow.”
Herbert held a one-shot outright lead at nine-under after 13 holes but when Burns birdied the 14th and the Australian hit an ordinary tee shot on the par-three 15th before settling for a bogey, things took a turn.
It was a difficult day off the tee. Herbert found just 35.7 per cent of fairways and relied on a tidy short game after hitting only two-thirds of the greens in regulation.
Following back-to-back bogeys on the 15th and 16th, Herbert’s biggest test came at the par-five 17th.
After another wild drive left, Herbert found himself blocked from the green with a bad lie and was forced to take a penalty drop. Following a lengthy discussion with rules officials, he was granted two club lengths that gave him just enough room to attempt an audacious shot around a tree.
What followed may prove to be the defining moment of his tournament.
Faced with 223 metres to a blind green from thick rough, Herbert produced a remarkable three iron that finished safely on the back of the putting surface. His birdie putt slid by, but escaping with par felt almost as valuable.
“I just had a bit of an aggressive streak there on that 17th. I was chasing that drive. I wanted to make eagle and get into that final group and be right there,” Herbert said.
“The two club lengths was right on the edge of where I could get a swing and get a decent lie. We were literally arguing over a foot, but it was pretty important in the whole grand scheme of things.
“I kind of got a feeling … I can hit something really special here and try to get some momentum swinging back the other way. I had just made two bogeys.
“It was one of those shots you stood over [where it was like] this is either going to be unbelievable or this could be the end of my tournament if I hit it straight into the bulrushes in front of me and run up some kind of double-digit score on that hole. I’m happy it came off.”
Herbert then scrambled another par at the last after taking free relief following another errant drive left, signing for a 71 that leaves him one shot behind New Zealand’s Ryan Fox and Si Woo Kim, who share second at eight-under.
“I think Sam Burns is going to be a man possessed. Given his results in majors and him not winning one, I think he’s going to be very tough to beat,” Herbert said of the world No.18.
“I’m not thrilled about giving him a three-shot head start, but we are where we are. I’d love to play my second-best round of the week tomorrow, shoot under par, and get myself in with a look. I’ve loved all the feelings this week of being in contention and competing.
“Obviously, yesterday, shooting 62 and all the emotions that [come with that] … I can only imagine it’s going to be similar if [I am] in contention to win tomorrow. I just want to experience that because that’s the stuff I grew up dreaming of doing and what I play the game for.”
Ian Baker-Finch, the last Australian to win the Open at Royal Birkdale, in 1991, walked the course watching Herbert’s round.
Only Greg Norman (1993) and Cam Smith (2022) have lifted the Claret Jug since Baker-Finch’s triumph in 1991, but Herbert believes there is still time to mount one final charge.
When Smith won at St Andrews four years ago, he also endured a disappointing third round, shooting one-over before closing with a brilliant 64 to claim the title.
It was a parallel Herbert had already considered as he walked up the 18th.
“I’d like some crossovers there if that were to work out,” Herbert said. “It would be a nice little story to go with it, wouldn’t it.”
McIlroy launches into DeChambeau over rules breach
Grand slam winner Rory McIlroy has launched a stunning broadside at Bryson DeChambeau, accusing the LIV Golf star of holding the British Open “hostage” during a “performative” stoush with officials after being docked two shots on Friday evening.
The extraordinary comments came less than 24 hours after DeChambeau threatened to withdraw from the championship at Royal Birkdale following a penalty for improving the area of his intended backswing on the fifth hole.
Despite the drama, DeChambeau recovered to post a one-under-par 69 on Saturday to sit at six-under, tied for sixth heading into the final round.
Officials ruled on Friday that DeChambeau had improved the area of his intended backswing before playing his shot from thick rough, although they accepted that the breach was unintentional.
The American was escorted back to the fifth hole after his second round to argue his case with rules officials, with his agent later insisting DeChambeau was not a cheat and had never attempted to gain an unfair advantage.
The lengthy discussions delayed the release of third-round tee times, leaving players, caddies, volunteers and officials waiting late into Friday night before the draw could finally be confirmed. Some competitors still did not know when they would be teeing off at 10.45pm.
After carding a 69 on Saturday to sit nine shots behind the lead, McIlroy delivered a withering assessment of both the incident and DeChambeau’s response.
“I was up in the players lounge watching it with a few other players, and as soon as he made the step into the ball, we all sort of looked at each other, and we were like, that didn’t seem right,” McIlroy said. “Then when I heard that he was called in by the rules officials … it was pretty obvious for why.
“I think there’s no doubt that he improved the line of his backswing. Again, whether it was careless or whether it was intentional, I don’t think it matters. Hopefully, it was careless, but I think the two-shot penalty was justified for sure.“
McIlroy and DeChambeau have shared a frosty relationship for several years, particularly since the American defected from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf. McIlroy was one of LIV’s most vocal critics during the height of golf’s civil war, and while tensions between the rival tours have eased in recent years, his latest comments showed there remains little warmth between the pair.
The six-time major champion made it clear he had little sympathy for DeChambeau.
“I won’t pretend to be up here and defend Bryson. I’m not particularly fond of him,” McIlroy said. “I think a lot of it’s performative. I think a lot of it’s for attention. To hold the tournament hostage like that, and to have all of us, players, volunteers, everyone waiting on him to depart, I didn’t feel like it was a great look.”
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Tom Decent is the chief sports writer for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.
