Lucas Herbert’s caddie sparks rules confusion during Open Championship charge
GOLF NEW ZEALAND OPEN, Lucas Herbert of Australia during Round 3 of the 105th New Zealand Open at Millbrook Resort, Arrowtown, New Zealand, Saturday, February 28th, 2026, NO ARCHIVING Arrowtown Otago New Zealand PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxAUSxNZLxPNGxFIJxVANxSOLxTGA Copyright: xMichaelxThomasx 20260228174655769135
GOLF NEW ZEALAND OPEN, Lucas Herbert of Australia during Round 3 of the 105th New Zealand Open at Millbrook Resort, Arrowtown, New Zealand, Saturday, February 28th, 2026, NO ARCHIVING Arrowtown Otago New Zealand PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxAUSxNZLxPNGxFIJxVANxSOLxTGA Copyright: xMichaelxThomasx 20260228174655769135
Lucas Herbert is currently leading the Open Championship at the halfway stage. However, his caddie found himself in touching distance of a penalty.
Herbert was on pace for one of the lowest rounds in major championship history when his caddie, Nick Pugh, briefly became the center of attention at the 14th hole.
Pugh pulled out a rangefinder on the 14th tee box. Herbert found the fairway bunker, and it looked like his caddie was about to use the device to see if the ball was plugged.
The Sky Sports commentators were quick to point out that Pugh’s action could be violating Rule 4.3. As the rule mentions, no distance measuring devices are allowed, and will lead to a two-stroke penalty, as reported by Ryan Lavner of Golf Channel.
December 7, 2025, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Lucas Herbert of Australia plays out of the bunker on the 18th hole in his final round at the 2025 Crown Australian Open at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Melbourne Australia - ZUMAl303 20251207_aaf_l303_036 Copyright: xSydneyxLowx
December 7, 2025, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Lucas Herbert of Australia plays out of the bunker on the 18th hole in his final round at the 2025 Crown Australian Open at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Melbourne Australia - ZUMAl303 20251207_aaf_l303_036 Copyright: xSydneyxLowx
However, minutes later, on the broadcast, it was clarified that the LIV golfer was in no danger of a penalty.
"To give you an update, the R&A ensures that batteries are removed so they can only be used as a binocular thing rather than a measuring device," said former tour pro turned analyst Andrew Coltart, as per Matt Cradock of Golf Monthly.
Herbert was utilizing the distance measuring device as a pair of binoculars. Thus, it was not violating Rule 4.3.
With the rules concern behind him, Herbert continued producing one of the tournament's most memorable rounds.
Herbert’s iconic opening round at Royal Birkdale
Herbert’s second-round performance on Friday took him into serious contention for the Claret Jug. He matched a record of over four decades.
The Aussie went off to a flying start. With six birdies on the front nine, Herbert matched Denis Duirnan's front-nine score set in 1983, according to Ben Smith of Golf Magic.
Herbert followed with two more birdies that gave him a two-stroke lead. He finished the round at 6-under 28 as he shot the lowest 18-hole score in men's major history, matching Branden Grace’s 8-under 62 at Birkdale in 2017.
With the rules confusion quickly put to rest and a record-matching round in the books, Herbert heads into the weekend with momentum and the outright lead in pursuit of his first Claret Jug.
What are your thoughts on Lucas Herbert’s second-round performance? Share them in the comments.
Written by
Avishek Sarkar
Edited by
Rudra Dubey