Lucas Herbert joins LIV teammates at the Open Championship after winning qualifying event

Only one of the four Australians playing on the LIV tour won’t be at this month’s Open Championship after significant qualifying success.

Lucas Herbert will make his major return in the The Open Championship at Royal Port Rush after the LIV star won his way in through qualifying.

He’ll join LIV teammates Cam Smith, the 2022 champion, and Marc Leishman, who earned his spot via a top-three finish at last year’s Australian PGA Championship.

Leishman played his first major since 2022 at the US Open this year, and now Herbert, who joined the LIV tour in 2024, will get his first major start since last year’s US PGA Championship.

Herbert dropped a shot on his final hole in the qualifying event at West Lancashire, but his score of eight-under was still enough to finish first and seal his spot.

“I’m super excited to be going to Portrush. I love playing in The Open,” he said.

“For us Australians, it was the major we watched overnight growing up. It’s really cool to be playing in another one and joining my teammates Cam Smith and Marc Leishman there.

Lucas Herbert topped Final Qualifying at West Lancashire to book his place at the 153rd Open Championship. Photo: Richard Martin-Roberts/R&A/Getty Images

“I’ve made it hard on myself just missing out on qualifying before now, but I’ve finally got there.

“I had chances in Australia, Macau and New Zealand and I couldn’t finish it off, so it’s definitely tested my patience. I’m glad it’s held out in the end.”

There will now be nine Australians in the field, Herbert joining Jason Day, Min Woo Lee, Leishman, Curtis Luck, Ryan Peake, Adam Scott, Smith and Elvis Smylie.

Herbert wasn’t the only LIV player to win through via qualifying.

Veteran Englishman Lee Westwood will play his first major since 2022, and his 28th Open Championship, after winning the qualifying event at Dundonald, while Dean Burmester won at Royal Cinque Ports.

“The first time I played in The Open was in 1995 when I qualified at Leven and I thought it would be great to come back here and try to qualify for another one at Royal Portrush,” Westwood said.

“It’s a fantastic golf course and I played well there the last time. I finished fourth in 2019, so that was another reason to come and play. The Open Championship is the greatest tournament in the golfing calendar.”

Originally published as Lucas Herbert joins LIV teammates at the Open Championship after winning qualifying event