Texas-born Mexican Abraham Ancer revealed it was thoughts of winning the Australian Open that helped secure his victory in Saudi International to the north of Jeddah,

Ancer, who turns 32 later this month, was never headed in posting scores of an opening round of an equal course record 63 and then subsequent rounds of 66, 64 and a closing 68 to win by two shots with a 19-under-par winning tally in glorious conditions on the Royal Greens course.

Victory is Ancer’s fourth pro career success having captured the 2015 Nova Scotia Open on the PGA Tour’s secondary Web.com tour, the 2018 Emirates Australian Open and 2021 WGC – FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

That’s also four wins on four different tours.

Abraham Ancer draws on memories of his 2018 Australian Open to capture 2023 Saudi International (Photo – Asian Tour)

Just over four years ago, Ancer arrived in Sydney with just his Nova Scotia win to his credit but also having led after 54-holes in two PGA Tour events only to fail to convert victory.

In November 2018, he headed into the final round of The Lakes course in Sydney leading by five shots, and collecting birdies at the fourth, eighth and ninth holes to be seven shots clear at the turn ahead of strolling to his five shot win, and the largest margin of victory in Australia’s premier event since fellow Texas-based Jordan Spieth captured the 2014 title by six shots.

And it was thoughts of his ‘Down Under’ triumph that Ancer said he drew on when he found himself tied for the lead after seven final round holes with American Cameron Young.

Young, who required a PGA Tour release to compete in Saudi, headed into the last day trailing two behind Ancer at 15-under-par but then tied the lead with Ancer at 19-under with four birdies in his opening seven holes.

It was around that time, and with then clear threat of Young for the first prize, that Ancer dug deep to recall the events of that final day on 18th November, 2018.

“You know, I was thinking about my win in the Australian Open a lot out there today as I had a big lead heading to that last day in Sydney, and I am thinking that what I need to do, and especially with Cameron playing as well he started out there today, to stay in control and not lose it out there”, said Ancer.

“So, I kept thinking how important it was to stay in the moment, to keep calm and keep focussing on that old golf saying of playing one shot at a time.

“My PGA Tour vehicle in ’21 in Memphis was different as I came from behind to tie the lead and win in a play-off but yes, thoughts of winning the Australian Open were key out there today.”

Young’s birdie on seven proved the highwater mark of his challenge as he then bogeyed the par-3 eighth hole in a two-shot swing in Ancer’s favour who birdied the hole. Young then made critical mistakes on the back nine when finding the water with his approach to the par-4 13th hole. He also double-bogeyed the 15th hole after a disappointing three-putt.

For Young, who was the PGA Tour rookie of the year last year,  it was his sixth runner-up finish in the past 16 months.

Victorian Lucas Herbert, who needed a release from both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour to compete in Saudi, secured his second straight third place finish in recording a closing round 65 for a 15-under tally.

Though Herbert’s quest for success was not helped when he doubled the second hole.

Sharing sixth place at 12-under were countryman Marc Lieshman (66) and Travis Smyth (65), and with the now LIV attached Leishman capping his round with a fifth hole eagle 3.

“I’m very happy with the week as I played well and my first time with a scorecard in hand since the Aussie Open”, said Leishman.

“I was not quite in the mix but I played well for the four days and I’m happy with most of the shots I played, so it was a solid start to my year.  I felt good coming here to Saudi as I had played a lot of golf during the Christmas/New Year break, so I didn’t feel that rusty or anything.’

“I do like to feel fresh early in a new season so that was a good result for me this week”.

Leishman was heading home to his family and his next event being the February 24th start at Mayakoba in Mexico to the 2023 LIV Series.

“I’ve played Mayakoba both in February and November and let me say, I like it much better in February so looking forward to the start of the LIV Series as it promises to be really exciting”, said Leishman.