Sport
World Wide Technology Championship preview: Ancer could be the answer
Viktor Hovland faces some stern opposition in Mexico this week as he bids to defend his World Wide Technology title on the PGA Tour.
Read on to find out where we believe the value lies…
Ancer to make an impression on home soil
Last year’s World Wide Technology Championship (formerly the Mayakoba Golf Classic) winner Viktor Hovland returns to El Camaleon Golf Club in Mexico to defend his title. He won with a 20-under score here 12 months ago, with all rounds in the 60s, including a magical third-round 63. With the clean-striking Norwegian looking like he is in menacing form once again after a T18 finish in the CJ Cup recently, it’s no surprise to seen him near the top of the betting at 18/1.
The only player shorter in the market is top-ranked world number 7 Justin Thomas at 14/1 and both players look to have strong chances, however, the value could lie elsewhere.
Abraham Ancer has a good record in this tournament, finishing in 9th, 21st, 8th and 14th positions in the last four seasons and there’s every reason to expect a good performance once again from the Mexican. The world number 14 has been in exceptional form since August, when he won his first PGA Tour event in the form of the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, beating Hideki Matsuyama and Sam Burns in a play-off. That victory seemed to inspire Ancer who went on to put in two excellent performances to finish 9th in both the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship.
While he missed the cut in the Shriners Open early last month, the 30-year-old responded well with a 14th placed finish in the CJ Cup in Las Vegas, shooting a score of 19-under for his four rounds, and finishing a stroke ahead of both Thomas and Hovland. The Mexican is likely to have the majority of the home support behind him here, so he looks booked for a good tournament, and he offers plenty of appeal at odds of 20/1.
Another player who could be worth chancing is American Patrick Reed. The world number 22 is a controversial figure on Tour and can be a streaky player, but he is one to keep on side when in form. That was the case when he hit a purple patch to end last year with a 10th place finish in the Masters, before winning the Farmers Insurance Open in January 2021, his ninth victory on the PGA Tour. While his form tailed off afterwards there have been signs of a revival recently, with a 2nd place finish in the Bermuda Championship last week meaning he has to be feared at odds of 35/1.
