Herbert, 22, finished tied for second behind Englishman Tom Lewis in the Portugal Masters.

Lewis holed a 40-foot par putt on the penultimate hole which proved to be decisive.

Lewis’ tee shot on the par-five 17^th went right into the water and it appeared he would make a bogey and slip back into a tie with Herbert.

However, the Englishman’s par putt from 40 feet found the bottom of the cup and Herbert’s birdie putt from 25 feet just slipped by the hole.

That left Herbert requiring a birdie on the final hole to tie Lewis, but his tee shot on the tough par-four 18^th hole found the water and his title hopes were dashed.

Herbert had a double bogey on the final hole to be even-par for the day and 19-under for the tournament.

Herbert’s runner-up finish earned him enough points to get to 64th in the Race to Dubai rankings.and an automatic European Tour card for 2019.

He also collected a career-high pay day of more than $280,000.

While Herbert would be disappointed not to win, it was another outstanding week by the Neangar Park golfer.

It was his fifth top 10 of the year on the European Tour.

“The goal at the start of the year was to get a main Tour card and we’ve done that, so that’s a pretty good feeling,” Herbert said following the tournament.

“Moving up the World Rankings is obviously the goal. Give myself the best chance by the end of next year to make the Presidents Cup team.

“If I can keep doing this I’m not going too far wrong I hope.

“I can’t be too critical of myself and I have to try to take the positives at the moment even though it’s not ideal not winning after carrying a lead into the last round.

“If I keep putting myself here enough times, surely one of them has to work out?

"It’s hard with golf, you don’t win very often.

“It’s pretty clichéd but you have to try to take the positives.

“I played three really good rounds under pressure when I needed to get my card, so I’ll try to think about that when I look back at this week.”

Herbert will have this week off before playing in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland from October 4-7.