Herbert joins LIV Golf circuit

LUCAS Herbert has joined Cameron Smith’s team on the LIV Golf Tour as Greg Norman’s lucrative Saudi-run circuit celebrated the signing of another top Australian player.

Hailing from Bendigo, Herbert declared his move to be an “incredible opportunity”.

Herbert’s move had been an open secret for the past few weeks, but the announcement was confirmed 48 hours before he teed it up in Smith’s ‘Ripper’ team in LIV’s opening event of the season in Mayakoba, Mexico last Friday.

“I’m very excited to team up with Cam on the all-Aussie Ripper GC squad this season,” Herbert said.

“This is an incredible opportunity, and I can’t wait to begin this part of my career.”

The sixth-ranked player in Australia behind Jason Day, Smith, Min Woo Lee, Cam Davis and Adam Scott, the 28-year-old has won three times on the European circuit and once on the PGA tour.

He’s played in 14 major championships, with his best finish being tied for 13th at the 2022 PGA.

In his most recent outings at the end of last year, Herbert earned top-10 finishes at his home Open and PGA Championships.

“I’m looking forward to teeing it up this week in Mayakoba and, of course, playing in front of our home country crowd in Adelaide in a few months,” said world number 82 Herbert, who will play alongside former British Open champion Smith, Marc Leishman and Matt Jones in the ‘Ripper’ team.

– IAN CHADBAND/ AAP