Lucas Herbert’s sterling recent play has again been rewarded with the 22-year-old earning a start at this week’s European Tour event in Oman courtesy of his third-place finish at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth.

The standout performer of the Australian summer has continued to run hot in 2018 and already has secured a berth at this year’s Open Championship and a card for the PGA TOUR China.

But the former top amateur will have his sights set even higher this week as he heads to the Middle East with a game that is in excellent shape.

Herbert’s scoring at Lake Karrinyup Country Club, despite not having all parts of his game firing, suggests his new-found maturity and confidence are paying dividends on the course and if he drives it well this week he will be a threat.

A European Tour card beckons for the winner in Oman and having come so close in Perth Herbert will be hungry and dangerous, this week.

Joining the rising star in the field at the Al Mouj Golf Club are Sam Brazel, Scott Hend, Brett Rumford, Jason Scrivener, Adam Bland, New Zealand’s Josh Geary and tournament invite Peter Stojanovski.

Bland takes his place in the field courtesy of his second-place finish on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit in 2017 which secured him a European Tour card for this year and will be looking to capitalise on that opportunity.

As a new event on the schedule there is little in the way of prior results to predict form but Brett Rumford will be keen to erase memories of a Saturday 78 at Lake Karrinyup.

Rumford’s first round 64 in Perth suggests his game is in good shape and his third-round form is likely an anomaly but he will be keen to prove that to himself this week.

Brazel returns after a week break, his missed cut at the Maybank Championship his first of the year.

Steady play prior to that event suggested a good result was not far off and it would be no surprise if he was among the contenders this week.

While Brazel has been consistent in 2018, Jason Scrivener has been anything but, three missed cuts in six starts for the year uncharacteristic for the West Australian.

He will be less than pleased to have narrowly missed qualifying for the match play in Perth and a better showing this week seems likely.