Herbert determined to not forget his roots

Speaking ahead of last week’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, Aussie Lucas Herbert confirmed he will defend next July’s Irish Open championship at Mt. Juliet.

Herbert became the first ‘Down Under’ golfer in 14-years to capture Ireland’s premier event leading from start to finish in winning by three strokes on the famed Co. Kilkenny course.

Lucas Herbert (Credit: European Tour)

Herbert, who turns 26 next month, then crossed the Irish Sea to share fourth place at the Scottish Open followed by a first Open Championship appearance after his Irish Open success earns him a Royal St. George’s tee-time.

In August, Herbert earned his PGA Tour card in the first event of the secondary Korn Ferry Tour ‘Play-Off’ series. Then in his second event as a full PGA Tour member Herbert brilliantly battled the brutal conditions to capture the Bermuda Championship.

The win earned the Bendigo-born Herbert an automatic invitation to next April’s Masters at Augusta National.

“I don’t want to turn my back on Europe and I’d like to play as many Rolex Series events as I can. It was the European Tour that helped me out when I first came out on Tour in extending me invitations to play.”

“Those invitations kick-started what I have been able to do in recent years, so I don’t want people to be thinking now that I have my PGA Tour I will not be forgetting about the new DP World Tour”.

“I’m starting my new season in the States but I will be back to Ireland to defend the Irish Open”, he said.

“It’s important to me to defend the tournament and I see from the new 2022 schedule it’s returning to Mt. Juliet and that’s great news, so I’ll be going there looking to win for a second time.”

Though foremost on Herbert’s mind after finishing 21st on Sunday in Dubai will be boarding an Emirates flight home to Melbourne for the first time since January this year.

“I am just looking forward so much to be heading home as I was only home for about three to four weeks over Christmas last year, so it’s been an awfully long time to be away from my family and friends”, he said.

“I guess it’s part of the sacrifice we face in this chosen profession and I accept that but I’m just looking forward to getting back, having a few weeks off and then heading to Hawaii for the Sentry Tournament of Champions.”

“I’ll play Hawaii, the Farmers Insurance, Phoenix and the Genesis Invitational so it’s a very nice early new season schedule as I am not going to play too many events in a row to be nice and ready to play the Masters.”