Abraham Ancer Looks to Bring Title to Mexican Fans at World Wide Technology Championship

Abraham Ancer won his first PGA Tour title just three months ago, taking down the FedEx St. Jude Invitational back in August. Now, he’s looking to add to that haul in front of his home fans this weekend in the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba in Mexico.

Ancer will head to El Camaleon Golf Club as the favorite to win the only annual Mexican stop on the PGA Tour, with FanDuel Sportsbook listing him at +1500.

Mexican pair headlines World Wide Technology Championship

Two of Mexico’s best golfers will play together in the first two rounds of the World Wide Technology Championship. Ancer will pair up with Carlos Ortiz and Spain’s Sergio Garcia, creating a clear feature group for local fans to follow around the course.

“This is one my favorite weeks of the whole calendar,” Ancer told reporters. “It’s a tournament that means a lot to me … being Mexican, only having this event and, well, I guess the [WGC-Mexico Championship] at one point, every week we get a chance to play in front of our people, it means a lot to me and the rest of the Mexicans that are in the field.”

Ortiz also picked up his first win last season, winning in Houston a year ago. He’s just a +6500 pick to win the World Wide Technology Championship, but shares Ancer’s excitement for the event.

“I’m always really happy to be back here,” Ortiz told reporters. “This is a beautiful one, I feel like I’m on vacation. I never feel like I’m actually playing a tournament, so that’s maybe why I play so good.”

Thomas, Hovland among betting favorites

Justin Thomas (+1600) rates as the second choice this weekend, just behind Ancer. Thomas sits in seventh on the Official World Golf Ranking list, but says 2021 has been largely disappointing by his standards. He’ll try to work his way back in form in Mexico.

“I’m one or two tournaments away from being in the top two or three again. It’s all about runs out here,” Thomas told reporters. “Everybody gets on these runs of the top players. And I know that I’m due and ready for another one, it’s just a matter of when it will happen.”

Viktor Hovland (+1900) comes back to the World Wide Technology Championship as the defending champion. He won the 2020 tournament last December by one stroke over Adam Wise. The 24-year-old now gets his first chance to try and defend one of his PGA Tour titles at a course where he feels very comfortable.

“This is my fourth time playing a PGA Tour event here and I also played the World Amateur here a few years back,” Hovland told reporters. “So it’s kind of weird coming to a place where I almost feel like a veteran since I haven’t been out here very long.”