In summary

  • Free of a hat sponsor after confirming he won't be part of LIV 2.0, Herbert wants to wear Australian small business merchandise instead.
  • He plans to wear a different local business's hat at each of up to 12 tournament days across the NSW Open, Australian PGA Championship, Australian Open and Cathedral Invitational.
  • Herbert was listed in court documents as an unsecured LIV creditor owed more than $1 million after the league's contracts were terminated amid bankruptcy proceedings.

After confirmation that the world No.52 won’t be part of LIV 2.0, Herbert took to social media to declare himself free of a hat deal and opted to take the novel approach as a way of supporting Australian businesses.

Herbert will play in the NSW Open at the Vintage Club in the Hunter Valley, the Australian PGA Championship at The Lakes, the Australian Open at Kingston Heath and, finally, the one-day Cathedral Invitational in country Victoria.

Having worn Ripper GC gear at every event he has played since joining LIV in 2024, including during his record-equalling round of 62 at the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, Herbert said he wanted to help Australian small businesses who have been “doing it pretty tough”.

“One of the things I’m passionate about is trying to help back home, whether it be junior sport, particularly junior golf, or, you know, mates in general, Australian foundations, Australian companies, Australian businesses, that sort of thing,” he said in a video posted to his Instagram account.

“I’ve been watching for a while this year, and I feel like Aussie small businesses have been doing it pretty tough. I see a lot of updates from different influencers and comedians and voices throughout our country talking about how hard it is to run a small business and how snowed under these guys are.

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Lucas Herbert (@herbznspices_)

“So, what I want to do is try and help give back. I’m not saying I’m a huge influencer across the world that’s going to completely revamp your business overnight.

“But I want you guys to reach out if you’re a small business owner, if you know a small business owner, if someone’s in the family, some friends, whoever. I want to wear some apparel.

“I have no tie to a hat sponsor coming back home this year, and I would love to wear some local business merchandise to promote you guys.”

Herbert said he wasn’t looking for any money and, should he “make all three cuts” would have 12 tournament days to potentially wear 12 different hats and get exposure for small businesses.

There was one proviso, though.

“It has to be a cool hat though. We can’t be having terrible style of hats,” he said.

“We’ve got to have some cool hats that I can wear out there on the course. Let’s get some local businesses on some hats. Let’s get some promotion for you guys.

“Let’s get this thing moving and let’s have some fun for the three weeks that I’m home.”

Herbert hasn’t yet spoken about his decision to quit LIV after his contract and those of all players associated with the embattled league were terminated as part of the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings.

But his management confirmed to Golf Australia Magazine that Herbert “is planning to not pursue LIV 2.0 in 2027”. He's set to play on the DP World Tour. 

Herbert was listed in court documents as an unsecured LIV creditor, owed more than $1 million.

His Ripper GC teammates, including captain Cam Smith, Marc Leishman and Elvis Smylie, are yet to confirm whether they will be part of LIV 2.0.