Lucas Herbert claims historic victory at LIV Golf as Ripper GC takes UK team title

Lucas Herbert didn’t just win the LIV Golf United Kingdom presented by JCB. He rewrote the LIV Golf record book while doing it. The Ripper GC star closed Sunday with a 10-under 62 to finish 30 under for the tournament, a wire-to-wire victory by six shots that stands as the lowest winning score in LIV Golf League history. Along the way, Herbert also set the league record for most birdies in a single tournament with 30, and the record for most combined birdies and eagles in a tournament with 32. It’s a fitting result after a strong stretch of golf that began at Royal Birkdale, where Herbert tied the major championship scoring record with his own 62, and played four rounds at JCB Golf & Country Club that included a 61 in the first round and never gave up from there. Herbert’s four rounds of 61-66-69-62 leave little room for discussion as to who is currently one of the hottest players in the world. He credited the confidence he built at the Open for continuing this week. “Last week gave me a lot of confidence in my ability to compete against the best,” he said. “I just really wanted to put that into practice this week as best I could. I think I got out of my way in the first two rounds and I started thinking about it yesterday. It was just good to play like that today when I was pushed by two of the best players in the world.” When asked how he managed to look so calm under pressure with Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton both chasing him, Herbert admitted the calmness was mostly an act. “I think it was a bit of a trick to hide it. I really felt it there,” he said. “I knew it wasn’t going to be a day where even par, 1 under, would be good enough for me. I knew I had to go out there and get it. I just kept pushing myself the whole way, and here we are.” He also pointed to a bit of luck sprinkled throughout the week, including a tee shot on 10 that turned into a good lie and set up an eagle. “It was one of those weeks, just when we needed a good break,” Herbert said. “I played well this week, but I also had a lot of good breaks, which is really nice. It’s good to take advantage of them when they come.” The individual title was only half of Ripper GC’s celebration. The Australian team also won the team title at 52 under, holding off Legion XIII by four shots, giving Ripper their third victory of the season and their first in Europe. Ripper GC captain Cameron Smith was full of praise for what Herbert achieved in helping to get the team there. “Herby is playing incredible golf. To have a 61 and a 62 in the same week while he’s blowing 30, 40 Ks per hour is pretty impressive,” Smith said. “We all realized that and played well enough to get the win.” Marc Leishman, who contributed regularly across the four days, admitted the team result mattered more to the group than any individual result once victory was out of reach. “It’s amazing. Obviously Herby and Cam have had an incredible few weeks, and Trav and I have kind of supported that a little bit,” Leishman said. “It’s funny, at the end of a tournament, when you have no chance of winning it, you don’t even look at the individual ranking. I was looking at the team ranking and I’m quite happy with our position.” Travis Smyth, who struggled with his own game but still played a role in the team’s title, called it a dream realized. “It’s the team I always wanted to play for, being Australian. All the boys, the whole team are Australian, so it’s like a dream come true, honestly,” Smyth said. “I didn’t play well this week, but obviously everyone has had an incredible few weeks. To be able to get on that podium and lift a trophy with the boys is incredible.” Hatton gave his home crowd something to cheer for, closing with a bogey-free 9-under 63 to finish second at 24 under. The Legion XIII star was gracious in defeat, quick to credit the player who beat him. “Obviously Lucas played wonderfully today. I wanted to get off to a quick start, and that’s what I did, but unfortunately Lucas did too,” Hatton said. “I’m very proud of the way I played. It would have been incredible to win in front of my home fans, but I did my best. But actually Lucas was incredible this week.” His performance also helped propel Legion XIII into second place in the team standings at 48 under, with Caleb Surratt having a strong week with a T5. DeChambeau’s hot streak, dating back to his positive week at the Open Championship, continued with a closing 4-under 68, good for a solo third-place finish at 21 under. His week also propelled Crushers GC into third place in the team standings at 42 under, while closing the gap between him and Jon Rahm for the individual championship. Smith’s impressive tournament, capped by his record-breaking birdie streak on Saturday, was rewarded with a solo fourth-place finish at 17 under after a closing 3-under 69 – a fitting individual result to accompany the team trophy he lifted as captain of the Ripper GC. Abraham Ancer and Surratt shared fifth place at 14 under, while Harold Varner III, Charles Howell III and Laurie Canter tied for seventh at 13 under. Canter’s week was a highlight for Majesticks Golf Club, ending with a 6-under 66 to give the home fans one more player to lift their spirits, alongside Ian Poulter, who finished at 8-under for the week. It was Herbert’s tournament, from the opening tee shot on Thursday to the final putt on Sunday – a week that will be remembered as one of the greatest performances in LIV Golf history. LIV Golf UK Final Ranking 1. Lucas Herbert (-30) 2. Tyrrell Hatton (-24) 3. Bryson DeChambeau (-21) 4. Cameron Smith (-17) T-5. Abraham Ancer (-14) T-5. Caleb Surratt (-14) T-7. Harold Varner III (-13) T-7. Charles Howell III (-13) T-7. Laurie Canter (-13) 10. Carlos Ortiz (-12) This play is courtesy of Mike McAllister in partnership with LIV Golf.