Abraham Ancer. Saudi International 2023/Neville Hopwood
Abraham Ancer was always relishing a return to his native Mexico for the 2023 LIV Golf League opener at Mayakoba.
But now he has even more reason to celebrate when he arrives to greet family and friends back home with the Saudi International trophy tucked away in his cabinet.
The Mexican held on for a wire-to-wire victory over American Cameron Young near Jeddah, claiming an eventual two-stroke triumph on 19-under — with Aussie Lucas Herbert third on 15-under — to get the party started
“Any time I get to play in front of my family and friends in my home country is a lot of fun. This time it will be extra special.
“I feel like golf is beginning to take off in Mexico a bit, and obviously bringing a LIV event there is huge. I am really excited and pumped. Mayakoba is an unbelievable place to go — even if you don’t like golf, it’s an unbelievable place to just hang out, and now with the Saudi victory it is going to be a great week.”
The diminutive 31-year-old was consistently outdriven by his playing partners Cameron Young and Matthew Wolff at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on Sunday during the final round of the Asian Tour $5 million flagship event, but Ancer consistently had the answers.
“There is hope for us short guys,” he joked. “I have played with big hitters my whole life, ever since I was a little kid, I just know I need to hit it closer from farther away. It is sometimes a little frustrating hitting a tee ball relay well and then you are using a 6-iron and then you walk 50 yards and they’re hitting a wedge. But if you get caught up in that then you’re going to be hitting all over the place. I know I’m not going to be anywhere close to Matt off the tee with the driver. I have just got to be accurate instead, that’s the way I like it and it’s nothing new.”
