In a DP World Tour Hero Dubai Desert Classic pushed into a Monday finish due to rare rain on Thursday, Herbert’s final round of six-under 66 was behind only Henrik Stenson (64) and runner-up Patrick Reed (65) as the best of the final round.

It elevated him to outright third and a first cheque for 2023 of €521,639.43 ($A802,150.36).

Given the work he and coach Dom Azzopardi have done over the Australian summer, it is a strong foundation that he knows he can build on in the months ahead.

“It’s promising signs,” said the 27-year-old.

“It still feels like there’s some work to do and I can get better than what I produced this week, so that’s exciting.

“To finish third here in this quality field, I think it’s good signs ahead for 2023.”

Trailing McIlroy (68) by five strokes at the start of play, Herbert was the first in the clubhouse at 16-under.

He had birdie opportunities from 35, 13 and 46 feet at holes 14, 15 and 16 that he was unable to convert before closing with birdies at 17 and 18 to give McIlroy and Reed the score to beat.

Reed followed him in with an 18-under total before McIlroy, who flirted with the water with his tee shot, holed a clutch putt from 14 feet for a birdie of his own at the 72nd hole.

“I felt like we were probably almost playing for second going into the day,” conceded Herbert, who will tee it up in this week’s PIF Saudi International on the Asian Tour.

“It’s pretty hard to spot Rory five shots and try and chase him down to win a tournament.

“Felt like if I could finish second or third, it would be a really good day. Sort of emerged from that pack at 12, 11, 10-under, those sort of guys.

“To emerge from that and finish (third), really pleased with that start to the year.”

As a result of his finish Herbert moved from 67th to 53rd in the Official World Golf Ranking as Min Woo Lee moved up one spot to 49th with his tie for 11th.

Jason Day is back inside the top 100 for the first time in almost a year following his tie for seventh at the Farmers Insurance Open, moving up to 92nd from 104th on the back of his second top-10 finish of the PGA TOUR season.

Results

DP World Tour
Hero Dubai Desert Classic
Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, UAE
1            Rory McIlroy      66-70-65-68—269           €1,407,598.47
T3          Lucas Herbert    69-67-70-66—272           €521,639.43
T13        Min Woo Lee     73-65-71-68—277           €127,235.86
T20        Ryan Fox             69-71-66-73—279           €91,198.19
T59        Jason Scrivener 71-71-72-69—283           €23,597.97
MC        Daniel Hillier      71-71-73—215

PGA TOUR
Farmers Insurance Open
Torrey Pines Golf Course, San Diego, California
1            Max Homa         68-70-71-66—275           $US1.566m
T7          Jason Day           68-71-73-68—280           $282,750
MC        Aaron Baddeley 71-74—145
MC        Cameron Percy  75-72—147
MC        Harrison Endycott           70-80—150
MC        Cam Davis          79-76—155

Korn Ferry Tour
The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club
The Abaco Club on Winding Bay, Great Abaco, Bahamas
1            Ben Silverman   71-65-67-70—273           $US180,000
Won on the first hole of sudden death playoff
T27        Curtis Luck         70-72-68-72—282           $7,300
MC        Brett Drewitt     73-73—146
MC        Rhein Gibson     76-73—149