Four years ago, Lucas Herbert was presened with a 21st birthday a gift of a bottle of Johnnie Walker ‘Blue Label’ whisky.
There was a proviso coming with the gift that Herbert was not allowed to open the whisky until he captured a first professional title.
After three second place finishes, Herbert broke through for maiden victory in sensational manner in capturing the 2020 Omega Dubai Desert Classic in a play-off from South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
And of all days to win your first professional victory, the 24-year old Bendigo-born Herbert achieved the feat on January 26th – Australia Day.
Herbert is this week competing in the second edition of the Saudi International and while he arrived at this week’s host course located around a 75-minute drive north of Jeddah to be congratulated at almost turn, it was very much back to business on the opening day of the event.
Lucas Herbert now able to open his 21st birthday present in winning the 2020 Omega Dubai Desert Classic (Photo – European Tour/Getty)
“I managed to get a good sleep-in on Tuesday and Wednesday, and behaved a little bit while I was not going to come this week if I was just going to make-up the numbers,” he said.
“So, the big thing I wanted to do was to turn up and be competitive and I am pleased to have done that this morning in shooting a three-under 67.
“Winning in Dubai was my first on the European Tour and I arrived here in Saudi determined to give this week’s event a good shake.
“The great thing also it’s been a fantastic reception from all the players, the caddies and Tour officials have all been so congratulatory and with everyone so happy for me.
“My phone also has been pretty much in meltdown mode the last few days with my family, people who have helped me along the way, mates who I’ve known a long time and so many others ringing and texting me which has been so special.”
When Herbert entered the tournament media centre last Sunday night, he did so not embracing a can of Fosters, VB or a Crown Lager but a glass of white wine graciously handed to him by the organisers as he signed a large number of commemorative 18th hole flags, and then in being asked how he would celebrate he touched on a bottle of whisky he had in possession back home in Australia.
The young Aussie explained more about this bottle of whisky.
“For my 21st, my friends bought me a bottle of Blue Label Johnnie Walker but that I could not open it until I won my first tournament, so it took just over three years and that was the comment I made on Sunday about having a bottle of whisky to drink,” he said.
“I will be home next week for the Vic Open but the bottle is up in Queensland but I am sure we will do something.”
Herbert’s first taste of success was not the only Australia Day victory toast with fellow Victorian Marc Leishman storming his way to a fifth PGA Tour triumph and his 13th pro win.
In winning the Farmers Insurance Open, Leishman became the fifth Australian-born winner worldwide in four weeks, on four different tour’s and on three different continents.
Marc Leishman’s Farmers Insurance Open win was the fifth Australian victory in four weeks, on four different tours and on three continents.
It is also understood, and with Wade Ormsby and Cameron Smith winning on the same weekend a fortnight earlier, it is the first time Aussie male golfers have won on the same week but on two different tours since 2002.
Herbert said he went to bed knowing Leishman was on a charge to victory.
“I had flicked onto some social media site that was sending out messages like ‘Leish leads through five holes’ and ‘Leish leads through seven holes’ and then it was like ‘Leishman wins’, and I was thinking ‘Hang on. Has he actually won?’
“Really though it was not to the next morning when I awoke that I knew he had also won, and also on Australia Day as that was awesome.
“Though Leish was pretty cool as I caught one of his TV interviews and he said it had been pretty cool seeing me win in Dubai.
“And to learn that stat about the number of wins by Australians since Adam’s (Scott) win just before Christmas is also pretty cool and I just hope all the success can help spark all the Australians competing on tours around the world.
“Though that’s a great statistic … what five wins in four weeks, on four tours and on three continents, and while I’ve come here with a real spring in my step, this week is another challenge.
“I’ve got a lot of golf coming-up in these next two weeks so the last thing I want to do is get complacent and just to rest on my laurels with that one win, as I want to keep pushing on and I may not win again but nothing is going to stop me from trying.
“That feeling coming down the stretch on Sunday was pretty cool and that is one you always want to experience.”
