Abraham Ancer surged to the top of the leaderboard with a stellar 5-under 67 during the second round on Saturday at LIV Golf Adelaide. The action unfolded at The Grange Golf Club in Australia, where Ancer's performance resulted in a three-way tie alongside fellow Mexican Carlos Ortiz and England's Sam Horsfield. Each player stands at 9-under 135 for the tournament, promising an electrifying final round on Sunday.
Ancer's round was marked by six birdies and a lone bogey, demonstrating precision and resilience amidst challenging conditions. Ortiz, meanwhile, maintained his composure to birdie his last hole, finishing the day with a solid 69. Despite their camaraderie, both Ancer and Ortiz are prepared to set aside their friendship as they vie for victory in the final round. Ortiz commented on their competitive spirit, stating, "It's going to be just another round of golf."
"It's going to be just another round of golf. I think we've played quite a bit together, and I just heard him talk; when you go out there, shoot the best you can and you hope it's good enough to win. If not, you go to next week." – Carlos Ortiz
The Majesticks GC team, led by Ortiz, sees the opportunity to achieve a podium finish for the first time since LIV Golf Boston in 2022. The team shot an impressive 8 under on Saturday, sitting at 10 under for the tournament, one stroke ahead of Fireballs GC and Legion XIII.
Torque captain Joaquín Niemann of Chile ended his second round with a 71, placing him in fourth at 6 under, just one stroke ahead of Legion XIII captain Jon Rahm. Meanwhile, David Puig, Brooks Koepka, and Stenson are tied for sixth place at 4 under. Defending champion Brendan Steele of HyFlyers GC improved his standings with a round of 70, moving from a tie for 48th to 29th.
Ortiz humorously referred to his co-leaders as "crafty veterans," acknowledging their skills and experience. Sam Horsfield, who shares the lead, added a light-hearted touch by quipping about his memory when reflecting on past performances.
"My memory doesn't go back that far," – Sam Horsfield
As anticipation builds for Sunday's decisive round, Ancer expressed his eagerness for the competition ahead.
"Hopefully tomorrow will be a great battle that we'll enjoy," – Abraham Ancer
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