Jon Rahm is poised to recoup the costs of chartering a private jet to rescue seven fellow LIV Golf players from the Middle East, having claimed a share of the lead heading into the final round of LIV Golf Hong Kong.
The Spanish golfer delivered a five-under 65 at Fanling, placing him jointly at the top of the leaderboard with Harold Varner III and Belgium’s Thomas Detry. Rahm is now seeking his first individual LIV Golf victory since 2024.
Detry, along with Rahm’s Legion XIII teammates Caleb Surrat and Tom McKibbin, were among the seven golfers who utilized the private charter organized by Rahm earlier this week. They had found themselves stranded in the UAE following heightened tensions arising from the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
“If it weren’t for him, I don’t think I’d be here,” Detry commented after his round of 66 positioned him alongside Rahm and Varner III at 17 under. He added, “It’s somewhat ironic.”
“Despite our competitive nature, he did it for his teammates and for the league. What he did was incredible, and he’s also a close friend.”
Rahm stated he felt a strong sense of duty to assist his fellow players.
“I simply see it as my duty,” remarked Rahm, who stands to earn a $4 million prize if he triumphs on Sunday.
“I was raised with the principle that if you possess the means to help someone, especially in a scenario where my primary concern was their safe extraction, rather than just playing a tournament.”
“I recall telling Caleb earlier in the week, ‘Let’s prioritize your safety first, forget the tournament for a moment, and then we’ll figure out if you can make it to Hong Kong.'”
“The rapidly changing circumstances made things look bleak for a moment. At one point, an alternative extraction plan even considered sending them to Europe.”
“I was even arranging for them to practice in Spain, as their arrival here seemed improbable.”
“Yet, here they are. I never expected them to make it. It’s truly wonderful that they are all safe, which is paramount.”
Regarding his quest to end a victory drought, Rahm is optimistic, especially after securing second-place finishes in his initial two tournaments this season.
“You must consistently place yourself in contention and create opportunities,” stated Rahm, who continues to decline a deal with the DP World Tour that would enable him to retain membership and participate in next year’s Ryder Cup in Adare.
“As long as I maintain this, playing good golf and seizing chances, a win will follow. With my current solid performance, I’m hoping for a strong Sunday to secure the victory.”
Varner posted an impressive seven-under 63, joining Rahm and Detry at the top, two strokes ahead of Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz, South Africa’s Dean Burmester, and Belgium’s Thomas Pieters.
McKibbin climbed to 11th, six shots behind the leaders after a 66. However, Graeme McDowell’s pursuit of his first win in six years was set back by a level par 70, causing him to fall seven strokes behind into joint 12th.
McDowell’s team, Smash GC, remains in contention for the team prize, holding a two-shot lead over 4Aces GC.