Lucas Herbert wins first PGA Tour event, earns automatic spot at the Masters

Australian golfer Lucas Herbert has claimed his maiden US PGA Tour title with a thrilling victory at the Bermuda Championship. 

Herbert closed with a final-round 2-under-par 69 to claw back a four-shot deficit and hold off fast-finishing American Patrick Reed by a stroke.

The 25-year-old’s victory comes just four months after he also won the Irish Open and then finished a shot behind at the Scottish Open the following week to surge into the world’s top 50 for the first time.

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Herbert mixed four birdies with two bogeys on Sunday to post a 15-under 72-hole total as unheralded American third-round leader Taylor Penrith crashed with a horror 5-over 76.

Reed reeled off four birdies in the last six holes in a 6-under 65 to share second spot with New Zealand’s Danny Lee, who couldn’t manage better than even par in his final round.

Graduating from the secondary Korn Kerry Finals last year, Herbert’s breakthrough win comes in just his 19th career start on the PGA Tour.

The victory has secured Herbert a place in next year’s Masters field at Augusta National and a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour.

AAP