Abraham Ancer has been confirmed as the latest player to join the LIV golf Invitational Series.
Rumours have been rife for days about the next players to join the likes of Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed on the Saudi-backed Series, with Brooks Koepka expected to be announced imminently.
World No.20 Ancer was originally reported to have joined earlier this week, and that has now been confirmed. In a statement from LIV Golf, its CEO Greg Norman said: “Abraham Ancer has been a rising star who’s established himself as one of the world’s top golfers in a very short period of time. He is a consistent contender which continues to elevate our competition. Abraham’s global reach and star power in Mexico and Latin America makes him a great fit for LIV Golf, which is committed to growing the sport on a global scale, particularly in new and emerging markets. We are thrilled to have him on board and look forward to having him in the field in Portland and beyond.”
Intriguingly, the statement goes on to announce that more announcements, as well as the full field for the second LIV Golf event, in Portland, Oregon, will be made in the coming days. Ancer will compete in that tournament, which gets under way on 30 June. There, the 48-man field will once again compete for a $25m purse.
Following the announcement, Ancer released a statement on Instagram explaining his decision. He said: "It is after careful consideration that I've made the decision to join LIV Golf. This is not a decision I have taken lightly. I am incredibly grateful and would like to thank the PGA Tour for the opportunities I have had in my career up to this point. I look forward to what the future has in store for my career in golf."
In the statement, Ancer also cited the opportunity to spend more time with family and friends, and the chance to help to give back to the game by helping it grow and flourish in Mexico as reasons for joining the Series. You can read the whole statement here.
Earlier, one player who was rumoured to be joining the Series, Collin Morikawa, announced on Twitter that he would be remaining on the PGA Tour, saying, "I'm here to stay." However, other players, including Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele, are also rumoured to be joining the Series.
