LIV Golf got another first-time winner in Hong Kong. Abraham Ancer emerged victorious after a thrilling three-way playoff against Cameron Smith and Paul Casey. This is the Mexican’s maiden silverware on the PIF-funded side since joining in 2022. Ancer’s brilliant approach on the first playoff hole, par-4 18th, almost sealed the victory. The Mexican International made no mistake in nailing the birdie putt. On the other hand, Bryson DeChambeau‘s Crushers GC clinched the team title for the second time in as many weeks to bag $3 million. Joaquin Niemann’s Torque GC came in second, while Smith’s all-Australian Ripper GC claimed the third spot. 

Interestingly, this was Ancer’s second playoff victory in his career. His lone PGA Tour win at the 2021 World Golf Championship-Fed Ex St.Jude Invitational also came through a hard-fought three-way playoff. That time, Hideki Matsuyama and Sam Burns were on the opposite side. Only a month ago, Ancer’s Fireballs GC captain Sergio Garcia lost in a playoff against Joaquin Niemann. Ancer’s previous best performance was tied for third at the LIV Bedminster last year.

Abraham Ancer rode on his strong second-round performance to stay in contention on the final day of LIV Golf Hong Kong. On Sunday, the Mexican picked only one birdie to card a 2-over 72. But his fiery 8-under 62 on the previous day gave him the much-needed five-stroke cushion on Sunday.

The 33-year-old was, however, seriously threatened by Cameron Smith and Paul Casey, both of whom wiped off his lead. The latter holed from the bunker for a three-way tie on the top, netting the joint lowest round of the day, carding 6-under 64. Ancer admitted the “round could’ve gone south really quickly,” but the former PGA Tour Pro did just enough to stay on top.

Abraham Ancer, still drenched from the champagne shower, said, “The ball striking wasn’t there, but mentally I was really strong. So, I felt really good. I felt like I was not gonna give up… [I] hit some good bunker shots, some good putts that I need to and just get myself in it and hit the right shot at the right time there on the playoff.”

For Smith, it’s heartbreak at Fanling again. The Australian had to leave Fanling with a heavy heart in November as Ben Campbell snatched the Hong Kong Open title from his grip. Four months later, the former Open Champion leaves the Hong Kong Golf Club as the second-best player, despite having a heavier pocket.

Key highlights from LIV Golf Hong Kong

Anthony Kim, in his second competitive outing in 12 years, grabbed the 50th spot on the leaderboard, carding a 3-over 213, a significant improvement from his maiden LIV Golf outing, where he ended the tournament dead last, shooting 16 over, 266 at Jeddah last week. In fact, this week, the 38-year-old broke par for the first time since his return to the greens. Kim carded seven birdies, three of which came on his final five holes, to card 5-under 65, one of the best rounds of the day. He has confirmed his next outing at the Asian Tour International Series Macau.

Mike McAllister, the Editorial Director of the LIV Golf revealed that Kim led the field in putting, holing approximately 150 feet of putts. The three-time PGA Tour winner said after the round, “The first two days I didn’t feel like I made a lot of putts, but today I putted really well. Saw the line well and just trusted my reads.”

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Last week’s champion, Joaquin Niemann, tied for the fourth spot, banking on his stellar 7-under, 63 in the final round. Niemann shot seven birdies, but the key highlight was, of course, his ace on the par-3 8th. Bryson DeChambeau tied for the sixth spot, while Jon Rahm bagged another top-ten finish with a T8. Rahm’s Legion XIII finished last on the team leaderboard.

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