[PHOTO: Getty Images]
His captain Cam Smith had not made a birdie through 13 holes on the final day at LIV Golf Mexico City and Ripper GC had plummeted from a five-shot lead to trailing several strokes behind. So Lucas Herbert decided to pull a rabbit out of the hat with a final round from the clouds, highlighted by a chip-in eagle at the par-4 11th hole at Club Golf Chapultepec.
Herbert’s scorecard was a sight to behold through 16 holes at the high-altitude Chapultepec, which sits almost 8,000 feet (2.44 kilometres) above sea level. It included the following highlights after Herbert began the round with a shotgun start from the 16th hole: Birdie at No.16, birdie at No.2, three straight birdies from Nos.4-6, birdie at No.10, chip-in eagle at No.11, birdies at Nos.12 and 13 to catapult himself to 13-under.
Herbert closed with two pars to shoot a 61, equalling the course record held by Jon Rahm (from the Spaniard’s win at the PGA Tour event at Chapultepec in 2020). It wasn’ enough, though, to secure Ripper GC a second consecutive teams victory following their triumph at LIV Golf Miami earlier this month. Herbert catapulted himself to a tie for second with 36-hole leader Bryson DeChambeau, who coughed up a golden opportunity for a win with an even-par 71. Joaquin Niemann took a three-shot victory at 16-under.
“Just one of those rounds where everything comes together,” Herbert said afterwards. “I thought I played pretty decent the last two days, just didn’t get many breaks, and I just felt like today every time I got the right kick and I’d make a putt when I needed. I just kept the momentum going through the round. I played great, and really enjoyed feeling everything I felt the last few holes. It was one of those rounds where it all just clicks for you, and it was a pretty cool feeling to do it at an event like this.”
Rahm’s Legion XIII team strode to victory at 28-under-par given Ripper GC captain Smith, as well as Matt Jones and Marc Leishman struggled on the final day in Mexico. They finished second at 26-under while Niemann’s Torque GC were third at 21-under.
Smith, after starting the day one shot off the lead, struggled to a one-over 72, while Matt Jones shot 75 and Marc Leishman 74.
“That’s kind of the nature of this [teams component where all four scores count], right? There’s been a ton of times on Sunday I’ve played poorly and the other boys have carried me. I could give you many examples of that. The boys didn’t come out and try and play poorly,” Herbert said.
“So yeah, some days I’m carrying them, a lot of days they’re carrying me. Would love to have obviously — if they had have played a little better and we were up there on the podium spraying each other with champagne, but I’m sure this won’t be the last time we’re right there in the lead, and I’m sure there will be plenty more times we’ll be spraying champagne on each other.”
Smith on Sunday in Mexico City. Photo: Getty