The 27-year-old Victorian was faring well on the opening morning at Hoylake, taking advantage of kind early conditions to be joint leader at three-under as he approached the penultimate hole.
But the 17th, a hole created to prompt late drama at the Open, quite ruined Herbert’s round as he became its first victim, having to trudge away with a triple bogey six that dragged him back to level-par.
And it was just as he had predicted the previous day, when he had suggested that it could be a card-destroyer.
“Well, I told you and I predicted it for you,” said Herbert, who was still able to raise a smile after his level-par round.
“I think it’s a great hole. There’s no wind. It’s a gap wedge and you can make a two pretty easily, but when that wind gets going, you can’t really feel it too much on the tee and it becomes a really tricky shot.”
What can…