Red-hot Herbert locked in for Aussie Open and PGA Championships

Media Release:

Lucas Herbert will bring one of the hottest games in world golf to Sydney in November after confirming he will contest the 2026 BMW Australian PGA Championship at The Lakes Golf Club.

Herbert has enjoyed a remarkable 2026 season, winning twice on LIV Golf and producing his best-ever finish in a major championship at The Open, where he tied sixth after firing a spectacular second-round 62.

The 30-year-old then followed his performance at Royal Birkdale by claiming a second LIV Golf title at LIV Golf UK, shooting a record 30-under-par to win by six shots. His final-round 62 capped a remarkable tournament in which he set new LIV Golf records for the lowest 72-hole score and most birdies in a single event.

Herbert’s first LIV victory came in Virginia in May, where he went wire-to-wire to finish 24-under-par and four shots clear of Sergio Garcia.

The Bendigo-born star will head to Sydney with the chance to add the Kirkwood Cup to an already impressive list of achievements, having won the 2024 Ford NSW Open and established himself as one of the country’s leading male professionals.

“The Kirkwood Cup has so much history behind it," Herbert said.

"You look at the names that are on that trophy and it’s an incredible list of Australian and international golfers. To be able to add my name to that list would be a really special achievement.

"It’s not just about winning another golf tournament — it’s about becoming part of the history of Australian golf.” 

PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said Herbert’s inclusion would be a major attraction for fans at The Lakes.

“Lucas has been exceptional this year and his performances on LIV Golf and at The Open have shown just how good his game is,” Kirkman said.

“He’s a major champion in the making and to have him coming back to Australia in this kind of form is fantastic for the BMW Australian PGA Championship and for Australian golf more broadly.

“Lucas has already won on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and knows what it takes to win in this part of the world. The BMW Australian PGA is one of the great championships in our sport and I know he will be determined to add the Kirkwood Cup to his list of achievements.

“It will also open a direct pathway to the DP World Tour if he can win at The Lakes.”

Herbert will join a quality field at The Lakes Golf Club for the BMW Australian PGA Championship from November 26-29, with the $2.5 million championship forming a key part of the summer of Australian golf.

The list of confirmed entrants includes Australian major champions Cam Smith, Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy, 2024 PGA winner Elvis Smylie, former Australian Open champion Cam Davis, two-time PGA TOUR winner Corey Conners and young Spanish star Josele Ballester.

The BMW Australian PGA Championship will be co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour through its Strategic Alliance with the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and the tournament will launch the DP World Tour’s 2027 Race to Dubai before being followed by the Capital.com Australian Open.

Herbert also coming home for Capital.com Australian Open

Australian star Lucas Herbert will return home in December chasing a maiden Capital.com Australian Open title after confirming he will tee it up at Kingston Heath Golf Club as part of a star-studded field in December.

Herbert arrives at Melbourne’s Sandbelt in arguably the best form of his career, having claimed two LIV Golf victories in 2026 and produced a stunning equal sixth finish at The Open Championship.

The 30-year-old’s remarkable run included a second-round 62 at Royal Birkdale, matching the lowest round ever recorded in men’s major championship history, before he backed it up with a record-breaking victory at LIV Golf UK just nine days later.

Herbert finished that event at 30-under-par, winning by six shots and setting a new scoring record for the competition.

Earlier in the year, the Victorian secured his breakthrough LIV Golf League triumph in Virginia, finishing four shots clear of Sergio Garcia.

With a PGA Tour victory, three DP World Tour titles, an Asian Tour title and a Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia victory also already on his resume, Herbert will now turn his attention to securing his national title for the first time.

“Winning the Australian Open is something I really want to do,” Herbert said.

“It’s my national open and it’s a tournament I grew up watching and dreaming about winning.

“I’ve been close before, so I know I’m capable of being in contention. To finally get the Stonehaven Cup in my hands would mean an enormous amount to me.”

In his most recent Open appearances, Herbert was T18 at Royal Melbourne last year and T5 in the 2024 event at Kingston Heath and Victoria.

“I’ve had opportunities here before and obviously I’d love to go one step further,” he said.

“You don’t get too many chances to win your national open on a course like Kingston Heath, so when that opportunity comes around you want to make the most of it. It looks like being a great field again so it should be an enormous week like last year.”

Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland said Herbert’s decision to return to Kingston Heath was a major boost for the national championship.

“Lucas is playing some of the best golf of his career and to have him bringing that form home to Kingston Heath is fantastic for Australian golf,” Sutherland said.

“He’s in the prime of his career and has shown this year that he has the game to compete and win at the highest level.

“There is no doubt Australian fans will be excited to see what he can produce on one of the world’s great golf courses.

“Lucas knows the Sandbelt well and he will have plenty of support behind him as he chases an Australian Open title for the first time. It would be a special achievement for him to add his name to the Kirkwood Cup.

Now ranked No. 51 in the Official World Golf Ranking, Herbert has previously finished inside the top 10 at the Australian Open and has enjoyed success on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, winning the 2024 Ford NSW Open.

His return to Kingston Heath will add further star power to a championship that already includes Grand Slam winner Rory McIlroy, Australian major champions Adam Scott and Cam Smith, plus Elvis Smylie, Cam Davis and international stars Corey Conners and Josele Ballester.

 

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