Jon Rahm rescues seven LIV Golf stars stranded in Middle East with hours to spare
Jon Rahm has rescued seven LIV Golf players who were set to miss this week’s event in Hong Kong as they were stranded in Dubai amid the ongoing conflict across the Middle East.
On Saturday morning, the US and Israel launched a 'major combat operation' against Iran, with American President Donald Trump calling for citizens to overthrow the country's supreme leader.
Following the operations, Iran has launched firing missiles and drones at its Arab neighbours, causing major concerns about the safety of those living in the countries and disrupting travel.
The conflict has raised concerns about the 2026 Formula One season ahead of the opening race in Melbourne this weekend and races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia next month.
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But Formula One isn't the only sport that could be majorly impacted by the ongoing conflict, as it has now been reported that LIV Golf star Rahm has taken drastic action to rescue some of his colleagues stranded ahead of the next tournament.
On Thursday afternoon, the LIV Golf season is set to resume at Hong Kong Golf Club at Fanling, Hong Kong, with 57 players, split into 13 teams of four and five wild card players, competing for a $20million (£14.9m) individual purse and a $10m (£7.5m) team purse.
However, ahead of the tournament getting underway, reports emerged that eight players from the Saudi-backed circuit’s membership was at risk of missing the event after they decided to practice in Dubai ahead of arriving in Hong Kong.
Lee Westwood, Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Sam Horsfield, Anirban Lahiri, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk and Caleb Surratt were unable to leave Dubai due airport closures amid the conflict in the area.
According to the Spanish outlet MARCA, via the Irish independent, LIV Golf had lined up eight substitute players in case the golfers were ultimately unable to make it to the tournament.
However, thanks to the generosity of fellow LIV Golf star Rahm, seven of the players have been rescued as the Spaniard paid for a private jet to bring them from Dubai to Hong Kong for the third event of the season.
Rahm, who lives in Arizona with his wife and three children, arrived in Hong Kong via Los Angeles on a flight earlier this week.
Two of Rahm's Legion XIII teammates – Tom McKibbin and Caleb Surratt – were among the group stranded in Dubai, but Rahm was also able to bring Detry, Meronk, Lahiri, Westwood, and Horsfield, as well as caddie Terry Mundy, to Hong Kong on the flight.
Unfortunately Canter reportedly faced flight issues and therefore did not travel on that plane.
Describing the ongoing situation in Dubai during a text exchange with Golf Channel, Surrat revealed that it he has been worried about his safety amid various strikes in the city.
“It was terrifying,” the American wrote. “But since then, it’s been OK. It was bad Sunday and Monday here with missile interceptions, but all day today was fine.”
LIV Golf Hong Kong features a shotgun start with the opening round starting at 05:15 a.m. on Thursday, with the tournament running until Sunday.
Topics: Golf
Ben McCrum