South African quartet win BIG at LIV Golf League Hong Kong stop

Abraham Ancer won the inaugural LIV Golf League Hong Kong on Sunday, blowing a five-stroke lead before beating Cameron Smith and Paul Casey with a brilliant birdie on the first playoff hole.

“Man, I made that so hard on myself,” a relieved Ancer said after holing a four-foot putt to win the $4 million first prize in the Saudi-backed breakaway circuit event.

Ancer had started the day five clear of the pack on 15-under after bogey-free rounds of 63 on Friday and 62 on Saturday at the Hong Kong Golf Club.

But the Mexican saw his ultra-smooth swing of the first two days desert him in chilly and wet conditions on Sunday, as he returned a two-over 72 in front of big crowds, who turned out in force despite the deteriorating weather.

Englishman Casey holed a spectacular bunker shot for a birdie at his final hole, the 16th, to complete a six-under round of 64 and draw level with Ancer and Australia’s Smith (66) on 13-under par.

But he found a fairway bunker off the tee in the playoff to end his hopes.

“I played some great golf,” said Casey, whose ‘Crushers’ won the team competition and a $3 million first prize to go with his $1,875,000 for a share of second place.

For the four South Africans in the 54-player field, it wasn’t as lucrative an event as last week in Saudi Arabia.

Dean Burmester fared best, finishing his 54 holes on 10-under par in a tie for eighth place. That was good enough for $396 071 (R7.4 million).

Louis Oosthuizen ended in a tie for 19th on 8-under par and took home $245 000 (R4.6 million).

Charl Schwartzel won $129 375 (R2.4 million) for his tie for 41st on 2-under par, while Branden Grace had to be content with $124 167 (R2.3 million) for finishing on 1-under par and in a tie for 45th place.

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