Tag: 2023 PIF Saudi International

It’s a PGA Tour-LIV Golf showdown, this time between Abraham Ancer and Cameron Young at PIF Saudi International

It’s a two-horse race.

It’s a two-horse race, and Abraham Ancer has a slight edge coming around the final corner.

Ancer and Cameron Young have pulled away from the field at the PIF Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in Saudi Arabia, with Ancer sitting at 17 under and Young at 15 under, five shots clear of a trio tied for third place. Ancer, who has led after every round, shot 6-under 64 in the third round while Young shot his third consecutive 5-under 65.

Matthew Wolff, Sadom Kaewkanjana and Lucas Herbert are tied for third at 10 under in the Asian Tour event.

Last week, it was Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed battling it out in Dubai. Now, it’s Ancer and Young, the PGA Tour’s 2022 Rookie of the Year, at the venue where LIV Golf’s championship event will be come November.

“Yeah, another very solid round. Happy with no dropped shots,” Ancer said. “That’s always my goal. On a golf course like this where it’s blowing pretty good, I’m really, really happy.

“Not really focused on what everybody else is doing. Just trying to play the same game I’ve been playing the past three days.”

Wolff had the round of the day, shooting 7-under 63 to vault up the leaderboard. However, Young is Ancer’s closest pursuer, and he’s looking forward to Sunday.

“Yeah, I think I’ve played really solidly,” Young said. “Obviously Abe’s playing some really nice golf. So I think tomorrow will be fun.”

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As LIV golfers like Cameron Smith and Phil Mickelson miss cut, this 15-year-old is T-6 at PIF Saudi International chasing Abraham Ancer

A 15-year-old made the cut while Cameron Smith didn’t.

Golf is a strange game.

At the PIF Saudi International, an Asian Tour event that’s littered with LIV Golf players and a couple from the PGA Tour, it’s a 15-year-old who’s stealing the show near the top of the leaderboard.

Ratchanon Chantananuwat, from Thailand and ranked 16th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, is 7 under and four shots off the lead heading to the weekend at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in Saudi Arabia. Abraham Ancer paces the field for the second straight day, and Cameron Young, the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year for 2021-22, is a shot behind.

“I think one of the reasons I played really well today was — the past two days was I had no expectations,” Chantananuwat said, “and not looking at the leaderboard, and ironically as soon as I started looking at the leaderboard on 8 and when the cameras came, that’s when I started not being as sharp. I think I’m just going to try and shut myself off tomorrow, Sunday, as well, keep my head down.”

2023 PIF Saudi International
Ratchanon Chantananuwat of Thailand tees off from the 5th hole during Day Two of the PIF Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on February 03, 2023 in Al Murooj, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Cameron Smith (2 over), ranked third in the Official World Golf Ranking, is heading home after missing the cut (even), along with other LIV golfers Phil Mickelson (1 over), Bryson DeChambeau (7 over) and Bubba Watson (2 over).

However, Marc Leishman and Louis Oosthuizen are in a tie for third at 8 under, along with Sadom Kaewkanjana, chasing Ancer, who shot 66 on Friday after opening with a 7-under 63.

Young has fired consecutive 5-under 65s to begin.

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