Lucas Herbert’s preparation for his first British Open has been far from normal.
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The 22-year-old Bendigo golfer tees off at Carnoustie on Thursday after a tumultuous week.
Herbert arrived in Scotland early last week without his clubs after they were misplaced by British Airways.
“Imagine preparing for 7 months for an event and for the week prior you have to sit around and watch because @British_Airways just don’t care,’’ Herbert posted on his Twitter account.
The loss of clubs cost Herbert valuable practice time.
Custom made replacement clubs from his sponsor Taylor Made arrived at Carnoustie on Sunday.
Herbert played practice rounds on Monday and Tuesday and has a late tee time for Thursday’s opening round.
Herbert, ranked 177 in the world, will play alongside Korea’s Min Chel Choi and American Jason Kokrak from 11.37pm (AEST).
In Friday’s second round, the trio tee-off at 6.36pm (AEST).
Herbert goes into the Open after a freshen up.
He missed the cut in his previous two tournaments – the US Open in New York and the BMW International in Germany.
The British Open has been his main goal all year and everything he’s done in past few months has centered around preparing for the major.
A 500-1 shot to win the Open, Herbert will try to emulate American Ben Curtis by claiming the famous claret jug at his first attempt.
Curtis was a 26-year-old rookie when he won the 2003 British Open at Royal St George’s.
Herbert, who is renowned for his aggressive style of play, will be tested by arguably the toughest course on the British Open rotation.
Conditions at Carnoustie are hard and fast and winds are forecast to reach up to 40kmh on Friday.
"I've never seen anything like it," American David Duval said after a practice round on Monday.
"It's very unsettling, very, very different. Trying to figure out where your ball's going to stop, it's just unbelievable."
The final stretch of four holes are known as the toughest finish in Open golf.
Carnoustie is most famous for the 1999 British Open when Frenchman Jean van de Velde blew a three-shot lead at the last hole before Paul Lawrie won in a three-man play-off.
