LIV Golf’s Herbert in charge at Australian Open, Smith two back

MELBOURNE: Lucas Herbert drained an eagle at the last in a flawless eight-under-par 63 Thursday to lead the Australian Open in Melbourne and upstage LIV Golf teammate Cameron Smith who trails by two.

In the women´s tournament, Australia´s Su Oh shared a one shot lead with South Korean teenager Yang Hyo-jin ahead of major winner Hannah Green. Starting on the 10th, Australia´s Herbert sunk six birdies to no bogeys before his sensational eagle propelled him into the outright lead at the second event of the DP World Tour´s 2025 season.

He ended one clear of Rintaro Nakaro -- Japan´s amateur champion in 2023 -- and American Ryggs Johnson, with 2022 British Open champion Smith a shot further back in a four-way tie. The mixed Australian Open involves men and women teeing off in alternating groups on the same courses.

Kingston Heath in Melbourne´s famous sandbelt region is the main venue across all four days with Victoria Golf Club also hosting play on the opening two days. “I felt like there was a lot of shots left out there,” said Herbert, a three-time winner on the European circuit, after negotiating soggy fairways and soft greens.

“I feel like that with every round of golf, to be fair, but didn´t really think I holed that many. Just hit it quite nicely.” Nakaro was the early pacesetter with eight birdies, but his round was spoilt by a bogey at the last.

“I´m surprised but very happy,” said the 21-year-old, who plans to turn professional next year. Smith, who finished second at last week´s Australian PGA Championship, is yet to win an Australian Open and has made no secret of his desire to do so.

He was one-over after three, but then reeled off six straight birdies to remain in the hunt. “I mean the greens are soft and there wasn´t much wind out there this morning, so a lot of those par-fives played really quite short whereas typically you get one hole into the wind or something like that,” he said.

“So yeah, I was just able to take advantage of that.” At stake for the men is a place at next year´s British Open at Royal Portrush with the top three earning a spot. Chilean defending champion Joaquin Niemann, Smith and Englishman Jordan Smith are already exempt.

Niemann, also on the LIV Tour, had a day to forget with 73 while Smith carded 70. Australia´s Su shot nine birdies in her 66 to lead the women´s field alongside Yang, just 17. But they have Green, a three-time winner on the LPGA Tour this year, breathing down their neck.

“I´ve worked really hard the last few months and felt like I was hitting the ball a lot better and just happy and proud,” said Su. South African defending champion Ashleigh Buhai struggled to 73 to be seven adrift.