LIV Golf Hong Kong: Abraham Ancer beats Cameron Smith and Paul Casey in play-off
- Published
Abraham Ancer (centre) had a five-shot lead overnight before clinching victory in a play-off
LIV Hong Kong final leaderboard |
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-13 A Ancer (Mex), C Smith (Aus), P Casey (Eng); -12 J Niemann (Chi), C Ortiz (Mex); -11 K Na (US), B DeChambeau (US) |
Selected others: -10 G McDowell (NI), J Rahm (Spa), I Poulter (Eng), R Bland (Eng); -6 B Koepka (US); +3 A Kim (US); +8 P Mickelson (US) |
Abraham Ancer blew a five-stroke lead but still managed to win his first LIV Golf event after a play-off in Hong Kong on Sunday.
The Mexican produced a final round of two-over 72, which allowed Australia's Cameron Smith (66) and England's Paul Casey (64) to join him on 13-under.
But Ancer regrouped on the first play-off hole, making a 4ft putt for a birdie and his sixth professional win.
"Man, I made that so hard on myself," said the 33-year-old.
Ancer set up only his second birdie of the day with a superb approach before sealing victory in the first LIV Golf event to be played in Hong Kong.
"The ball-striking wasn't there [today], but mentally I was really strong so I felt really good," he added. "I just kept myself in it and hit the right shot at the right time there in the play-off."
Casey holed a spectacular bunker shot for a birdie at his final hole, the 16th, to draw level with Ancer and Smith, only to find a fairway bunker off the tee in the play-off.
Chile's Joaquin Niemann, who won two of the previous three LIV events this season, finished with a seven-under 63 to finish just a shot off the lead, along with Mexico's Carlos Ortiz.