Australian Open golf third round leaderboard: Lucas Herbert makes his move, helped by cult hero caddie
Aussie Lucas Herbert has surged into contention at the Australian Open, with one of golf’s most colourful caddies guiding his push for the title. See the full leaderboard here.
Lucas Herbert sent a reminder to his old schoolboy playing partner Min Woo Lee not to forget about him as he charged into contention at the Australian Open.
Herbert and Lee grew up playing junior events together and while Lee’s been getting all the attention lately after his win at last week’s Australian PGA, Herbert sent a not-so subtle memo that he’s still around.
Saving his best for last, Herbert shot a five-under 66 on Saturday to charge up the leaderboard from 16th to fifth place heading into the final round, just two strokes behind co-leader Lee.
“I felt like I played well enough in the first nine holes (on Friday) to probably put that score up, but the back nine was a serious challenge,” Herbert said.
“I was just holding on for dear life and unfortunately lost the battle.
“But I’ve played pretty solid, I think this is my fifth week on the road, I’ve shot one round over par in that stretch, so I’ve been playing solid for a while.
“Just haven’t quite been able to turn those three-unders into five-unders or five-unders into seven-unders like I’d like to and what would be getting me a lot further up the leaderboard.”
Herbert’s only blemish on Saturday was a bogey on the penultimate hole but he made amends when he birdied the par-five last after a monster drive after getting a tip from his colourful caddie Nick Pugh.
“To be able to sort of do that I would have loved to have scratched that bogey on 17, but I feel like I’ve got a lot out of the round,” Herbert said.
“To be fair, seven-under was probably my number at the start of the day that I wanted to shoot, but through the round obviously I didn’t get off to a hot start.
“I think I was only one-under through seven, so I sort of thought if I could get it to 11-under or 12-under, at least that would be somewhere near.
“At the start of the day I’m probably thinking Min Woo’s going to get to 15 or 16-under, just the way he’s playing, so I thought at 12, I’m somewhere near it, if I get hot and he doesn’t play too well, I’m a chance.”
Arguably Herbert’s best shot of the day – his drive on the 18th – came after he chat with his bearded caddie Pugh, one of the sport’s favourite characters.
“Pughie said 350-odd (yards) to the red dot, which we were just past, so I assume it’s gone down there a fair way,” Herbert said.
“I’ve been struggling a little bit with the driver and I felt like I found a bit of a feel with the game basically late in the round and sort of thought, why not, give it a good touch up down there.”
HERBERT STAKES HIS CLAIM
Lucas Herbert has grabbed the clubhouse lead late in the third round at The Australian Open.
But he remains one shot behind co leaders Min Woo Lee and Rikuya Hoshino, who were both still on the course.
Starting the day tied for 16th at six-under, Herbert stormed up the leaderboard with a five-under 66 to head into the final round at 11-under.
He made six birdies while his only dropped shot came at the penultimate hole.
Lee led by three shots at the halfway stage but saw his advantage evaporate after a series of mistakes.
He made a double bogey on the third hole when he found the water and dropped another stroke at the 10th when he fluffed his chip shot from the rough.
But he managed three birdies to remain even for the day at 12-under with seven holes to play.
Runner-up to Lee at last week’s Australian PGA, Hoshino grabbed a share of the lead at 12-under when he eagled the 14th
SCOTT RUNNING HOT
Adam Scott has made a flying start to his third round at the Australian Open, picking up three shots on the field though his opening three holes at The Australian Golf Club.
Scott started the day at four under, eight shots behind halfway mark leader Min Woo Lee. By the time he had walked off the 12th green – he started at the 10th – the gap had been reduced to five shots.
Scott, who won the Stonehaven Cup a decade ago, needs to keep the momentum going if he is to harbour any hope of fighting his way back into the tournament.
Aiming ‘for the opening in the green’ half a kilometre away, Adam Scott delivered. On fire early at @AusOpenGolf#adamscottpic.twitter.com/Rpm00zEwir
— Paul Prendergast (@paulprendo) December 2, 2023
Min Woo Lee has had his lead at the Australian Open cut back to one shot after he found trouble at the third hole.
Lee, who began his third round at The Australian Golf Club with a birdie, pulled his drive at the par four 3rd slightly left into the rough and then sent his second shot into the lake adjacent to the green.
He walked off with a double body to have his lead whittled down to one shot – Scotland’s Connr Syme was hot on his heels at 10 under.
American Sean Crocker (65) and Australian Adam Bland (65) were the big early movers as they finished their third rounds at nine and eight under respectively.
The women’s leader is South Korea’s Jiyai Shin at nine-under. She is two strokes clear of last year’s winner, South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai.
There was plenty of excitement early on when teenage amateur Ann Jang made a rare albatross at the par-five opening hole.
Shortly after, Calum Hill made a hole-in-one at the par-3 11th.
🚨ALBATROSS ALERT 🚨
— Golf NSW (@GolfNSW) December 1, 2023
What a way to start the Australian Open weekend, 16 year old Ann Jang had an albatross on the first hole! #AusOpenGolfpic.twitter.com/Ge5ECk0M7c
SMITH LAMENT AS LEE STEALS AUS OPEN SPOTLIGHT
Min Woo Lee will start the third round of the Australian Open with a three-shot lead over the field at The Australian Golf Club after a scintillating end to his second round on Friday.
Lee, coming off a win at the Australian PGA, is on track to make it consecutive victories over the Australian summer after another flawless performance in his second round.
The 25-year-old capped his round with an eagle at the last after playing a picture-perfect nine iron into the 18th green to extend his lead and leave him in pole position heading into Saturday’s third round.
Lee (64) has been majestic over the past fortnight and it will take something special to run him down over the weekend. That said, there are no shortage of challenges holding out a sliver of hope that Lee could capitulate over the weekend.
Scotland’s Connor Syme (70) and American Patrick Rodgers (70) are three shots back ahead of a group of three that includes Chilean Joaquin Niemann (69).
Former winners Matt Jones (68) and Cameron Davis (74) are six shots back off the lead. Another former winner Adam Scott (68) is at four under alongside Aaron Baddeley and Cameron Smith (68).
They’ll need to produce something special over the weekend to get anywhere near Lee, who is playing like a man possessed.
“That’s just the type of golf I play,” Lee said.
“I’m not that serious. Sometimes you play good, sometimes you play bad and right now I’m playing good and I’m having fun.
“It’s not many times we get to play out here in Australia and enjoy this type of crowd, so I’m soaking it all in.”
Smith added: “It was a lot better today and could have been way less.
“I did everything I needed to do except hole the putts, which is really frustrating.”
Asked whether he would continue to be aggressive, Lee said: “I mean, people know who I am
“I’m pretty true to myself. Yeah, go out there and do the same thing.”
In the women’s event, Korea’s Jiyai Shin (68) will take a two-shot lead over defending champion Ashleigh Buhai into the third round.
First round leader Rachel Lee (79) struggled in her second round to fall 10 shots off the pace while Minjee Lee (75) was one better at even par.
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