Aussie of the Month: Lucas Herbert
Lucas Herbert. The boy from Bendigo was the subject of intense speculation from mid-December until late January that he was going to join Cam Smith and his Ripper GC team on LIV Golf. The speculation grew so heavily that even News Corp found a leaked photo of Herbert posing for a photo with Smith in Mexico. Herbert was dressed in Ripper GC apparel.
LIV unveiled its new Aussie later that week before its season opener at the El Cameleon course at Mayakoba in the Playa del Carmen area of Mexico. Herbert joined Jon Rahm, Adrian Meronk and Tyrrell Hatton as LIV’s signings for 2024. The all-Aussie team of Ripper GC now boasts Smith, Marc Leishman, Matt Jones and Herbert.
Not an Australian, but…
We’re all watching with bated breath to see how long it will take for two-time major winner Lydia Ko to secure another LPGA victory and gain the 27th point needed to enter the LPGA Hall of Fame. The Kiwi three-putted to hand a playoff victory to Nelly Korda at the recent Drive On Championship in Florida. But no doubt Ko, who recently won her 20th LPGA Tour title, will grab that final point soon.
Birdie Of The Month
Peter Senior, take a bow. Six months shy of turning 65, the Australian golf legend broke his age on the golf course. Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club posted the lovely news on their social media accounts that Senior, playing in the Friday comp, shot a seven-under par 63 on the Palms course, with a back nine of six-under 30. The only golfer to win the Australian Open, Australian PGA Championship and Australian Masters past the age of 50 was playing off a handicap of plus-3. Safe to say we’re not playing him for money off that mark any time soon. The only bad news? With 40 Stableford points, Senior didn’t win the comp.
Bogey Of The Month
Fore! Billionaire Harry Triguboff’s daughter is in a dispute with Bondi Golf & Diggers Club over golf balls landing in her backyard from the beloved public nine-hole course. Orna Triguboff bought the $11.5 million property in Bondi in 2021. Nine News confirmed she had filed a complaint to Waverley Council.
Golfers In The News
Brett Coletta: The Victorian emerged victorious from a battle with Wollongong’s Jordan Zunic to bag the biggest win of his career at the $420,000 Vic Open at 13th Beach Golf Links.
Sibling rivalry: ABC’s flagship documentary series “Australian Story” will soon air an episode detailing the lives and careers of Minjee and Min Woo Lee [above]. It is only the second episode to feature a golfer in the 27-year history of the program, with Greg Norman being the other.
Order of Merit race: OK, so he’s not technically an Australian, but 22-year-old New Zealander Kazuma Kobori leads the PGA Tour of Australasia’s Order of Merit as it heats up towards the finish line. Kobori finished T-10 at the Vic Open, which came with double OOM points compared to a regular tour event. The Vic Open and New Zealand Open, which offers quadruple points like the Australian PGA and Australian Open, were the big events on the closing portion of the 2023-2024 schedule.
Kobori recorded back-to-back victories at the Webex Players Series Murray River and Victoria events, rocketing him to No.2 in this season’s standings, behind only Min Woo Lee.
The winner of the Order of Merit earns a DP World Tour card for 2024-2025 and a start at the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon this July.
Fast debut: Wayne Perske, a former PGA Tour of Australasia and Japan Golf Tour pro, made his All-Abilities debut at the Webex Players Series Murray River at Cobram Barooga Golf Club. Perske switched to All-Abilities golf after having a fourth spinal fusion surgical procedure, having been born with scoliosis. He won the Cobram Barooga event by seven shots.
Getty images: Julio Aguilar
