Lucas Herbert has once again stolen the limelight from his star LIV Golf teammate Cameron Smith, claiming the first-round lead at the Australian Open in Melbourne. On the soggy fairways, Herbert capitalized on preferred lies, wrapping up his round with an eagle on the final hole to finish with an impressive eight-under-par 63 at Victoria Golf Club. This newly crowned NSW Open champion now holds a one-stroke advantage over 2023 Japanese amateur champion Rintaro Nakano and American Ryggs Johnston, who both carded seven-under 65s at Kingston Heath, tying for second place. Meanwhile, Smith, who expressed his frustrations with tournament officials after a challenging pro-am, managed a six-under 65, putting him just one shot behind the leaders. Despite a rocky start, where he dropped a shot on the third hole, Smith rallied to secure six consecutive birdies mid-round, showcasing his skill and determination. “It was a slow start for me, but I found my rhythm thanks to some coffee,” Smith remarked. With three rounds left, Smith is determined to make his move on Kingston Heath in hopes of capturing the Stonehaven Cup for the first time. Herbert, who recently overcame a four-shot deficit to deny Smith the NSW Open trophy, is now poised to challenge his teammate once again. The 28-year-old golfer achieved a bogey-free round filled with six birdies and an eagle. “I left a lot of shots out there; I felt I could have scored even lower,” he confessed. In contrast, former world No.2 Minjee Lee had a disappointing start to her campaign, finishing with a two-over 74, leaving her eight shots behind LPGA Tour peer Su Oh, who impressed with a six-under 66. The competition remains fierce as other stars like Hannah Green and Lee’s brother Min Woo prepare for their afternoon tee times.
