From the late wave and beginning on 10 tee, World No. 46 Lucas Herbert bogeyed two of his final four toward a 2-under 35-33=68 in R1 of the 104th PGA Championship at Southern Hills CC, T7 on the board and three short of leader Rory McIlroy.
The Aussie, a first-time member (not a rookie), is making his fourth appearance, missing the cut two tries ago and posting T71 in the other two, including last year at Kiawah Island. Today’s 68, which tied for the second-best lap in the more difficult afternoon session, featured six birdies against three bogeys, losing 0.719 strokes off-the-tee but gaining 1.378 on approach, 1.369 around, and 2.805 on-the-green. Afterward (link below): “I feel kind of comfortable here. This reminds me of some golf back home on the Sand Belt, Peninsula Kingswood for the guys in Australia listening.” Overall, the one-time TOUR winner (2022 Bermuda) has contested eight majors, missed four cuts, and his best finish is a T31 at the 2021 U.S. Open at Winged Foot. “I’ve played enough of these major championships now where I feel like I know what it is that I need to do to play well. I haven’t been able to play the way I would have liked in the majors I’ve played so far, but feel like I’ve got more of an understanding...”