Armed with a second-hand putter he picked up at a thrift shop over dinner in Korea last week, Australia’s Lucas Herbert surged to a two-shot lead and tied the course record with a bogey-free nine-under-par 62 in the opening round of the US$2 million International Series Japan presented by Moutai.
The putter — a Code 01 Forged with an old Yes C-groove face — was on fire, particularly from holes one to seven, where Herbert carded six birdies and an eagle to overtake Japan’s Shunya Takeyasu. The eagle came at the par-five second, where Herbert smashed a five-wood to 20 feet and rolled in the first of many long putts.
Takeyasu posted a bogey-free 64 in windy conditions to sit solo second. Korea’s Younghan Song was a shot back in third after a hole-in-one on the par-three sixth helped him to a 65. Japan’s Shugo Imahira, chasing a return to the form that saw him reach world No.30 in 2019, posted a 66 to tie for fourth alongside compatriot Ren Yonezawa, Guatemala’s Jose Toledo, American Cameron Tringale and Thailand’s Atiruj Winaicharoenchai.
Herbert, 29, is part of LIV Golf’s all-Australian Ripper GC and was in Incheon last week for LIV Golf Korea. Despite three top-five finishes on LIV this season, he felt his putting had held him back. Years ago, while heading to the 2018 Open Championship, his bag was lost in transit — along with his favorite C-groove putter. So when he spotted the same face on a putter in Korea, he bought it instantly — and the gamble paid off at the par-71 Caledonian Golf Club.
He matched the course record set by Japan’s Tadahiro Takayama in the opening round of the 2017 Asia Pacific Open Diamond Cup.
“Very happy with the way I played. Slowed down a little bit towards the end. Would have been nice to play the last four holes a little better and maybe have a run at a 59,” said Herbert, who finished third in the International Series Macau presented by Wynn last year.
“No… but very happy to be leading by two. And [equal] the course record as well.
“The putter was behaving, definitely on the first few holes. Just got off to really hot start there with the putter. And that just gave me a lot of confidence going to the rest of the round knowing that I could sort of get myself anywhere around the hole.”
Takeyasu, 32, spent a season on the Asian Development Tour in 2016, winning the PGM UMW Championship in just his second start. After a slow start to 2024 on the Japan Golf Tour, with only one top-10 in 17 events, he found form late with four top-10s and a T11 in the Nippon Series JT Cup.
A Tohoku Fukushi University graduate — one year junior to 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama — he began on the 10th and was three-under through five. He then surged with three straight birdies on the 18th, first and second holes, and added another at the par-five seventh.
“I think today’s round was the result of playing aggressive golf, which led to a good score. I’ve been playing well and felt like I could finish on the top of the leaderboard,” said Takeyasu, whose best Asian Tour result was a runner-up finish at the 2016 Yeangder TPC.
“Last year, my putting stats were not good, so I practiced a lot. My putting is getting a lot better now.
“I want to win, but it’s not something that can be done by wishing. So, I’ll focus on my game, and hopefully the victory will come as a result.”
Takeyasu credited his time on the Asian Tour with toughening him mentally and professionally.
“I spent about two years playing Asian Tour, and I think I am a much better player because of the experiences I gained there. I really like the atmosphere on the Asian Tour back then, and even though we’re in Japan this week, the vibe feels very much like playing the Asian Tour,” he said.
“Back then, I had to arrange my own caddies and accommodation while traveling. All those experiences contributed to the toughness I have now. It was great mental training for me.”
Korea’s Song made a hole-in-one with a nine-iron from 159 yards, helping him to a round of 65.
“My iron shots were not very good today,” said Song, winner of the 2016 SMBC Singapore Open and a regular on the Japan Golf Tour. “But my approach shots and long putts helped me.
“It was a very lucky day. This is the first hole-in-one I’ve made in 14 years. The feeling was simply indescribable when I saw the ball drop into the hole. I was ecstatic.”
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