BEDMINSTER RECAP: ANCER PRODUCES HIS BEST LIV FINISH ON A TOUGH COURSE

Ancer shot rounds of 69, 71 and 69 over the three days, with his 4-under total exceeded only by winner Cameron Smith (-12) of Ripper GC and runner-up Anirban Lahiri (-5) of Crushers GC

Ancer’s 4-under score was matched by Patrick Reed of 4Aces GC and Dean Burmester of Stinger GC, but Ancer claimed the tiebreaker and the final podium spot thanks to his better final round. His 2-under 69 beat Reed’s 71 and Burmester’s 72.

Ancer’s previous best result during the 2023 LIV Golf League season was a 16th last month in London. His best overall LIV result was an eighth-place finish in Boston last year.

Thanks in large part to Ancer’s contribution, the Fireballs claimed the final points-producing position at Bedminster with an eighth place, with a team counting score of even par for the week. It’s the ninth time in 11 tournaments this season that the Fireballs have finished in the points, and they are in sixth place in the team standings with two regular-season events remaining.

Here’s a recap of the Fireballs’ individual performances at LIV Golf Bedminster:

ABRAHAM ANCER (-4, 3rd place)

Ancer’s play from tee to green was outstanding, as he managed to stay out of trouble for the most part on a Bedminster course lined with thick rough. He tied for first in the field in fairways hit at 78.6% and he tied for sixth in greens in regulation at 72%. He’s now led or shared for most fairways hit in each of the last two tournaments.

The week started briskly for Ancer, as he birdied three of his seven holes in the opening round. Overall, he made just eight bogeys; just five players made fewer bogeys during the week.

In finishing third in points, Ancer made a huge move up the season-long standings, jumping 11 spots from 41st to 30th.

CARLOS ORTIZ (E, 17th place)

Ortiz shot consecutive rounds of 70 to start the tournament, then closed with a 73 to finish at even par for the week. His 17th place was his eighth points-producing result of the season, as he remained 13th in the season-long standings.

SERGIO GARCIA (+4, 32nd place)

The Fireballs captain’s best round came on Saturday when he shot 70 and made two birdies against one bogey. But three double bogeys during the week ­– two of those coming on the par-4 fifth – were too much to overcome.

Garcia dropped just one spot in the season-long standings and is now 17th.

EUGENIO CHACARRA (+10, 43rd place)

Chacarra struggled at the start, posting an 8-over 79 on Friday that included one double-bogey at the par-4 11th and one triple-bogey at the par-4 17th. He was 7 over on his first eight holes but played the remaining 46 holes the rest of the week in 3 over, as he shot 71-73 in the final two rounds.

Chacarra is now 32nd in the season-long standings.

STAT REVIEW

Field ranking in parentheses

Fairways Hit

Ancer – 38 (T1)
Chacarra – 29 (T11)

Garcia – 29 (T11)

Ortiz – 29 (T29)

Driving Distance Avg.

Chacarra – 313.1 (4)

Ortiz – 307.3 (10)
Garcia – 298.9 (23)
Ancer – 294.7 (39)

Greens in Regulation

Ancer – 39 (T6)
Ortiz – 36 (T21)

Garcia – 33 (T35)
Chacarra – 37 (T46)

Total Putts

Chacarra – 86 (T9)

Ancer – 88 (T15)
Ortiz – 89 (T18)

Garcia – 90 (T24)

Total Birdies

Chacarra – 9 (T20)
Garcia – 9 (T20)
Ancer – 8 (T31)
Ortiz– 8 (T31)