Australian Lucas Herbert has claimed his first LIV Golf title in stunning wire-to-wire fashion, holding off a charging Sergio Garcia to win LIV Golf Virginia by four strokes on Sunday.
Herbert fired a three-under-par 69 to finish at 24-under 264 over 72 holes at Trump National Washington in Sterling, Virginia. The 30-year-old Queenslander led for the final 58 holes, showing remarkable composure under pressure.
"I can perform pretty damn well when things aren't perfect," Herbert said. "I was feeling pretty sick when I woke up this morning, worse than the last few days. I had Sergio coming at me for 36 holes really hard and he pushed me the whole way, made me earn that one."
The victory also secures Herbert a spot in next month's US Open at Shinnecock Hills through LIV Golf's qualifying pathway—a special bonus for the Aussie, who made his major debut at that very course in 2018 and missed the cut.
"So many things came with winning today, I wanted to focus on winning and then spend this moment on what comes with it," Herbert said. "Nice added bonus. My first major was at Shinnecock. Nice to go back and see what I've learned since then."
The win marks Herbert's first title since claiming the Asian Tour's International Series Japan event last year, and his most recent DP World Tour victory came in Japan in 2023.
Herbert entered the final round with a three-stroke lead over 46-year-old Garcia, the 2017 Masters champion, and the duel lived up to expectations. Garcia opened with a birdie at the first, but Herbert answered immediately with a birdie at the par-five second. When Garcia bogeyed the par-three third, Herbert stretched his lead further.
The turning point came at the ninth hole, where Herbert made a double bogey while Garcia reeled off three consecutive birdies from the eighth through 10th to close within a single stroke. But the Australian showed his fighting spirit, bouncing back with birdies at the par-three 11th and par-five 12th. Garcia's bogey at the 13th gave Herbert a four-stroke cushion he would never relinquish.
Despite a bogey at the 14th, Herbert maintained his composure as both players birdied the 15th, keeping the Aussie three ahead as rain began to fall under dark skies. A final bogey at the 17th did little to dampen his celebration.
For golf fans looking to channel their own winning spirit, Herbert's performance is a masterclass in resilience—staying cool when the pressure mounts and bouncing back from setbacks. Whether you're teeing off at your local course or just enjoying the game, a little Aussie determination goes a long way.