Though he has five professional victories, including the WGC FedEx St. Jude Invitational on the PGA Tour, Mexican Abraham Ancer has yet to win on the LIV circuit, but he’s got one hand on the winner’s trophy at LIV Hong Kong after a second-round 62 saw him open clear daylight between himself and the chasing pack.
The tight confines of Hong Kong Golf Club are tailor made for the diminutive Ancer’s accuracy and short game prowess, but he didn’t have to rely on the latter as he hit all 18 greens in a supreme display of ball striking in round two. He’s now navigated 36 holes without a bogey, firing seven birdies on day one and going one better in round two, making four-in-a-row from the 11th hole.
Ancer’s five shot cushion should be enough to see him get his maiden LIV victory, but with course measuring just 6,710 yards, the potential for an eight- or nine-under from the chasing pack is there so he’ll need to keep his aggressive mindset in the early stages at least.
And it seems as though that’s his intent. “I’m not going to be thinking about leading the tournament,” said the 33-year-old, whose best result is a tie for third last season at LIV Golf Bedminster. “I’m just going to go out there and stay in the present, go about my routine, and just keep doing the same thing. Try to focus on the shot that I’ve got in front of me.”
Ancer’s Fireballs GC teammate Eugenio Chacarra has come through to join Harold Varner III in a tie for second at -10, with the all-star trio of Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith and Henrik Stenson one further adrift in a three-way tie for fourth.
“The most important thing is not worry about Abe,” Varner said. “That’s how you lose. I think I’ve played enough golf to know that the best thing is to just give myself as many looks as possible and try to just stay within myself.”
With first and second on the individual board, it’s no surprise that the Fireballs are also leading the team classification on -28, three clear of second-placed Ripper GC with the Cleeks poised for a rare podium appearance should they hold onto third place.
Graeme McDowell’s solid form continues as the Portrush man followed his opening 69 with a second-round 64 to climb to a tie for 13th at -7, moving alongside his Smash GC captain Brooks Koepka. G-Mac birdied seven holes in total, including the last to give himself a chance of a second top-five finish this season.
Anthony Kim’s fifth competitive round in 12 years was his best of the five. Despite four bogeys and a double, he carded four birdies and recorded a two-over 72. Still, he continues to languish near the foot of the leaderboard at +8, leading only Hudson Swafford who sits on +9.
After his three double-bogey, 10-over effort on day one, Phil Mickelson put some respectability on his week with a two-under 68 to sit level with Kim.
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