JEDDAH: Mexico’s Abraham Anser made an impressive start to the $5 million PIF Saudi International run by SoftBank Investment Advisors on Thursday, shooting a first-round 7-under-par 63 to take the clubhouse lead at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club. Did.
Colombian Sebastian Munoz finished second with a score of 64, while Spain’s Sergio Garcia, South Africa’s Luis Oothuizen and America’s Cameron Young shot 65 to finish third in the star-studded opening event of the Asian Tour season. 12 major winners.
The answer was in a domineering form. He started on the 10th and made four birdies on the back nine, including three on the trot from hole 13 and three additional birdies on his back nine.
Ensor said: “Obviously very happy. I felt like I was in control of the golf ball for the most part. Took advantage of the low wind early on.
“At the turn it started pumping pretty well. Once it starts that way, you try to keep at it, and it was definitely nice to be able to make some birdies.”
The 31-year-old will compete at the 2018 Australian Open and the 2021 WGC-Fedex St. Jude is looking for his third professional win after success at the Invitational. His chances of victory will be helped by the fact that he has an impressive track record at Royal Greens, where he has played 15 times before and is 23 under par overall.
Unlike Anser, this was Muñoz’s first time competing in a Saudi International, and the Colombian went in with a blank slate.
“It’s really cool,” Munoz said. “Coming in, I didn’t know what to expect. Never been here. Never seen pictures of it. It’s beautiful. Loved it. The setup was good, and the course was good.”
2017 Masters champion Garcia also took advantage of the easiest morning conditions. “It was actually a lot calmer than I initially thought,” he said.
“Then obviously it got windy like it always is here. I think I played well, gave myself a lot of good chances, very good composure because on the front nine, which was 10 to 18 for me, I had some There were good chances that didn’t go in, good putts that didn’t go in. But I kept my composure, and then on the back nine I was able to make some good putts and some good defenses for birdie. Very happy with the round ”
In overcast afternoon conditions, Americans Patrick Reed and Jason Kokerk led with matching 3-under-par rounds.
After a slow start on the front nine, Reid came home with four birdies and no faults on the back nine to sit in a tie for ninth place after the first round. After the round the Major Champion said: “There was a really strong wind, and I really didn’t feel that comfortable at the beginning.
“I didn’t really make any putts on the front nine. Made two three putts and went 1-over, and then on the back nine I just kept hitting the ball solid and giving myself more chances and putts when I needed to.
It was a momentous day for golf in Saudi Arabia, with two of the country’s top novices playing their first rounds as professionals, marking their transition to the professional ranks at their home tournament and premier Asian Tour event.
Faisal Salhab, 2-over-par Thursday, and Saud Al-Sharif, 9-over-par, became the second and third Saudi professionals, along with compatriot and friend Othman Almulla.
Salhab, who put herself in a strong position to make the cut yesterday after her rounds with David Puig and Justin Harding, said: “Today was a very special day for me. I’m happy with my birdies and I’ll try to repeat that tomorrow.” Will do, but at the same time make sure that I avoid the mistakes that I have made in the meantime.