Lucas Herbert achieved a wire-to-wire victory in the 2021 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at the Mount Juliet Estate in County Kilkenny.
Finishing on a 19 under par total, Herbert had three shots to spare over Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg. American Johannes Veerman was a further shot behind on 15 under.
A final round of 68 from Hebert, following rounds of 64, 67 and 70, saw him take his second European Tour victory on his 65th appearance.
Hebert becomes just the third Australian to win the Irish Open. Ossie Pickworth in 1950 and Brett Rumford in 2004 were the only Australians to have previously won Ireland’s national open.
Winner’s reaction
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” admitted the Australian. “It’s just so – it’s a bit fulfilling, really. I felt like I was at one of my low points in my life when I played here two years ago at Lahinch in the Irish Open, and now to feel like I’ve done full swing and come back around and won the event that I was at a pretty low point at, it’s pretty satisfying. I’m very happy standing here right now.”
The 2021 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open winner continued:
“Obviously chip-out on seven and then make that really nice putt for par. And then just scrambled all the way down eight and made that; that could have been the turning point of the day, if those two putts don’t go in, you make two bogeys. To keep that card really clean out there and not come back to the field and give them a chance, I’m happy about that.
“And later the bunker shots on 15 and 16, I felt like I scrambled so nicely all day. I didn’t feel like I holed a lot of putts yesterday, so to feel I holed the putts today, so good, so good.”
A former winner of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, Herbert’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open success is a 136th win by an Australian on the European Tour.
Today’s win will see Herbert rise in both the Race To Dubai Rankings and the Official World Golf Rankings as well as achieve a place in this year’s Open Championship.
Shane Lowry, who carded a 66 today for a four-round score of 279 (-9), finished as the leading Irish player in tied-23rd place.
A final round of 72 from Cormac Sharvin saw him finish two shots behind the Offaly native.
Graeme McDowell signed for a 74 on Sunday to finish on three under par, while Rory McIlroy, who also had a 74 in the final round, ended the tournament on two under par.
Dubai Duty Free Irish Open scores here
