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Butterfield Bermuda Championship: Lucas Herbert keeps cool to take victory at Port Royal

Aussie clinches his first win on the PGA Tour after scoring a one-shot success over fast-finishing Patrick Reed and New Zealand’s Danny Lee.

Lucas Herbert held his nerve down the stretch to score a breakthrough first win on American soil thanks to a one-shot victory at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

Four behind leader Taylor Pendrith overnight, the Aussie battled strong winds and rain at Port Royal to shoot a closing 2-under-par 69 and finish at 15-under.

That was one in front of Patrick Reed and Danny Lee while halfway leader Patrick Rodgers was a further shot back in fourth.

With tee times moved forward due to the weather forecast, Reed set the clubhouse target of 14-under after a hot putter helped him finish with a 6-under 65.
The 2018 Masters winner holed lengthy putts at 13 and 14 to jump out of the chasing pack and nailed further birdie efforts at 17 and 18 to come home in 31.
With Pendrith and Lee faltering in the tough conditions, Reed headed to the practice ground in case of a play-off.
But Herbert looked a picture of control throughout and denied Reed the opportunity.

Herbert moved to the turn in 1-under and went birdie-bogey-birdie from 12-14 to emerge one shot clear with four to play.

Lee lost his chance, and his discipline, during a double bogey, bogey, bogey run at 12, 13 and 14 although birdies at 15, 16 and 17 helped him recover to finish tied second.
Despite playing his first 16 holes in 3-over, Pendrith was still just one back teeing off at 17.

But the Canadian found water twice and a double bogey seven relegated him to tied fifth with Scott Stallings, who shot the round of the day, a brilliant 62.

Herbert stayed solid with a fine up-and-down from sand at 16 and parred 17 to stay one clear with just 18 to play.
Two perfect swings left him a short birdie putt and although it caught the lip, he tapped in to secure victory on just his 20th start on the PGA Tour.
The 25-year-old Aussie, a two-time winner on the European Tour after successes in the 2020 Dubai Desert Classic and July's Irish Open, moved to fifth in the FedExCup standings.
He said: "I felt like I grinded really hard out there.
"Obviously through that middle patch there was so tough. Just hit good shots, good putts and just didn't get rewarded and you just couldn't kick yourself. Had to stay patient and wait for those opportunities to come and thankfully, you know, they came at the right time for me."
Reflecting on the rough weather conditions, he said: "I love playing when it's really hard. It makes you be that little bit better and eliminates the guys who aren't as good at hitting shots that don't get affected by wind or rain as much.
"I just enjoyed the struggle out there today. There's times when you're nearly sitting on the ground behind an umbrella and just embracing that was so much fun.
"It just opens up so many doors for me. It's just so exciting being able to play out here (the PGA Tour) and now and pick a schedule."

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