Lucas Herbert kicks off a brand new chapter in his golf career at the 2026 NSW Open, delivering a solid three-under-par 68 in the opening round. The Australian, whose return after his LIV exit was eagerly anticipated, sits three shots behind the leaders after Thursday at The Vintage, Hunter Valley. A successful debut for the former world No. 53.
Herbert, who already won the NSW Open in 2024 and is arguably the most prominent name in the field this year, showed with four birdies and only one bogey that he has lost none of his class. His goal was a solid start, not to force anything – a tactic that pays off on this course. This week marks the official kick-off of the Australian summer season for him, after he became the first Aussie golfer to publicly announce his departure from LIV.
A Heart for Home
What makes Herbert's comeback even cooler is his story off the fairway. After his LIV sponsorships became a thing of the past, he offered free space on his apparel to Australian small businesses. Over 1,000 companies responded. Thus, on Thursday, the logo of the Khartoum Hotel from Kitchener adorned his cap – a truly powerful gesture that shows where his heart lies.
Battle at the Top
At the top of the leaderboard, things were really heating up: Brett Coletta, Jye Halls, Ben Henkel, and Josh Younger share the lead with a stellar round of six-under-par (65). Coletta shone with eight birdies. Herbert is therefore positioned to make a full charge but needs a low second round to keep pace with the tightly bunched leaders. The stage is set for an exciting weekend!
