It was a win the best part of two decades in the making.
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When Lucas Herbert strode the fairways of Neangar Park Golf Club as a youngster he dreamed of winning tournaments on the world stage.
In the early hours of Monday morning (AEDT), the 24-year-old broke through for his first win on the European Tour in the Dubai Desert Classic.
The same tournament where Rory McIlroy won his first event, while Tiger Woods and Ernie Els are also on the honour roll.
"I finished top-10 quite a few times and that was a pretty cool rush, but to win is something else,'' Herbert said after his maiden win.
"It's just such a good feeling. All of the bad times and all of the hard times and all the missed cuts, they made up for that feeling on the 18th green there when we won."
Herbert played arguably one of the best rounds of his career - a four-under par 68 in tough conditions - to force his way into a play-off with South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
His title hopes looked dashed when he splashed his approach shot on the first play-off hole into the water.
After playing the "worst shot of his life", five minutes later Herbert played the best pitch shot of his life to within half a metre of the hole to ensure the play-off was extended.
This time Herbert took the water out of play.
A monster drive was followed by a sublime second shot that set up a 30-foot eagle putt.
He didn't drain the eagle, but the tap-in putt for birdie was enough to clinch a history-making win.
"It's the best thing ever, it's so good," Herbert said.
"We've got a bottle of scotch at home to celebrate back in Australia so I can't wait to get into that with the boys."
Riding a roller coaster of emotions back in Bendigo were Lucas' proud parents Lyndon and Meredith.
"From where he was even three or four months ago, to come out and have that win is huge,'' Meredith said.
"It's testament to him and, really, his whole team that's reformed around him and supported him.
"He would never say it's his achievement, it's a team effort. He wouldn't achieve what he's got without his team."
Lyndon and Meredith admitted it's emotionally tough to follow their son's career from the other side of the world.
"Lyndon doesn't want to look at the scores, but I can't not look at the scores,'' Meredith said with a chuckle.
"I'm not allowed to say anything to him.
"I'll go and watch TV in the bedroom, so I don't hear any noises," Lyndon added.
"It's hard...but we're not the one with a putter in our hands."
Lyndon and Meredith were inundated with phone calls and text messages from family and friends throughout the night.
The most important phone call was from Lucas himself, who was still coming to terms with the fact he'd won.
"To see him happy and successful is just lovely," Meredith said.
"He was very happy and he was in for a big night."
With a cheque for just shy of $AUD800,000 in his back pocket, exemption on the European Tour until the end of 2022 and a world ranking of 79, Herbert had every reason to celebrate.
You're in Dubai, you've just broken through for your first professional golf win on the European Tour and it's Australia Day - how do you celebrate?
Lucas and his team pumped out Men At Work's Down Under and danced the night away.
Now that the first win is out of the way, you get the feeling it won't be the last time Herbert and his team has a Sunday night dance session.
Read more: Golf, cricket, mates and missing home
Read more: No place like home for Lucas Herbert
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