Rahm’s Assist Propels Him and Detry to LIV Golf Hong Kong Lead
HONG KONG – A remarkable turn of events has unfolded at LIV Golf Hong Kong, where Thomas Detry and Jon Rahm are tied for the lead after the third round. The connection between their success extends beyond the leaderboard, as Rahm played a pivotal role in getting Detry and seven other LIV Golf players to the tournament after they were stranded in the Middle East.
Stranded and Saved
Detry was among eight LIV Golf players stuck in the United Arab Emirates due to flight cancellations stemming from attacks in the Middle East. If it wasn’t for him, I don’t think I’d be there,
Detry said, referring to Rahm. Rahm, through a partnership with a private aviation company, arranged a charter flight for the players. The journey involved a 280-mile drive to Muscat, Oman, followed by an eight-hour flight to Hong Kong.
The other players who benefited from Rahm’s assistance included Lee Westwood, Sam Horsfield, Adrian Meronk, Tom McKibbin, Caleb Surratt, and Anirban Lahiri. Laurie Canter made his own travel arrangements.
On the Course: A Three-Way Tie
Detry fired a 66 in Saturday’s round, joining Rahm (65) and Harold Varner III (63) at the top of the leaderboard. Thomas Pieters, Carlos Ortiz, and Dean Burmester are two strokes behind the leaders.
“That was incredible of Jon to position on that plane,”
Thomas Detry
Rahm on His Actions
Rahm described his actions as simply my duty.
He explained, I was raised with certain values, that if you have the ability and capability of helping somebody … Especially in a scenario like that where my main focus essentially was getting them out of there, not necessarily playing a tournament.
Team Standings
In the team competition, Smash GC currently leads, followed by the 4 Aces GC team featuring Detry, Dustin Johnson, Anthony Kim, and Thomas Pieters.
Leaderboard Snapshot
- Leaders: Thomas Detry, Jon Rahm, Harold Varner III
- Two Strokes Behind: Thomas Pieters, Carlos Ortiz, Dean Burmester
Eagle alert 🚨
A HUGE 69 foot putt from Thomas Pieters on 10 to acquire to T12 #LIVGolfHongKong | @4AcesGC_ pic.twitter.com/yltelGyPSf
LIV Golf (@livgolf_league)
Pieters’ Hot Round
Thomas Pieters carded the best round of the day, a 9-under 61, fueled by an eagle and seven birdies. Amazing today. I didn’t miss a shot
he commented. I watched a teacher on Instagram at the beginning of the week and something clicked in my swing, it’s working well this week.
Perez in Contention
Victor Perez is currently in 29th place, having shot a 67 (-3) – one stroke better than his previous two rounds.
Photo: Chris Trotman/LIV Golf
FAQ
Who helped the LIV Golf players get to Hong Kong?
Jon Rahm arranged a charter flight for eight players stranded in the Middle East.
Who is currently leading LIV Golf Hong Kong?
Thomas Detry, Jon Rahm, and Harold Varner III are tied for the lead.
The tournament promises a thrilling finish as these players battle for the title, with a compelling backstory of camaraderie and assistance adding an extra layer of intrigue.