LIV Golf star unearths the biggest flaw of PGA Tour following Saudi switch
Lucas Herbert is one of the players who joined LIV Golf at the start of the 2024 season. After his experience as a rookie in the breakaway league, the Australian has identified the main difference between this circuit and the PGA Tour.
According to Herbert, LIV Golf works as a "real family" because the same players compete in tournament after tournament, something that does not happen on the PGA Tour.
This is part of what Lucas Herbert said (via The Mirror):
"I've loved the fact that it feels like a real family out there with LIV obviously. If you think of PGA Tour events, 156 players, 156 different caddies, 156 different families, whether it be girlfriends, parents, kids, everything, and then that changes week to week."
He added:
"Players go home, others come out, and you just don't get the ability to get to know guys as well as you know out here on LIV, it's like it's the same 54 guys every week."
Lucas Herbert began his professional career in 2015. From 2018 he played on the DP World Tour, where he won three tournaments (2020 Omega Dubai Desert Classic, 2021 Irish Open, 2023 ISPS Handa Championship). Between 2021 and 2023 he also played on the PGA Tour, where he won the 2021 Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
Lucas Herbert on his LIV Golf experience: "My game has massively benefited"
Lucas Herbert also mentioned how beneficial it has been for him to be part of a team at LIV Golf. Here's how he put it:
"Cam Smith gave me an hour of his time on the chipping ground at the Greenbrier. Can't imagine that ever happening to any other player when we're playing individual events on the PGA Tour."
He added:
"So just the knowledge I've been able to zap from my teammates at various stages throughout the year has been awesome, and my game has massively benefited from that."
Lucas Herbert joined LIV Golf days before the start of the 2024 season, joining the All-Australian team at Ripper GC. He joined compatriots Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, and Matt Jones.
Herbert played in all 13 individual events on the tour schedule. He finished in the top 10 on three occasions and tied for sixth on all three occasions (Houston, Greenbrier, and Chicago). He finished the season ranked 25th individually with 47.35 points.
The Australian had much more success in team competition, as Ripper GC was one of the best throughout the season. The team won two tournaments (Adelaide and Singapore) and achieved three other podium finishes to finish the regular season in third place.
But the best was yet to come. Ripper GC defeated Sergio Garcia's Fireballs GC in the semi-finals of the Team Championship, with Herbert contributing a point by beating David Puig.
A day later, Ripper GC finished the stroke play round on 11-under to claim the coveted team title for the season. Herbert contributed six birdies, one bogey, and one double bogey (3-under) for the team's second best score.