Korean players on the LIV circuit draw passionate support as the tour’s Asian chapter deepens at Hong Kong Golf Club
Asia’s Own at LIV Golf Hong Kong
When LIV Golf returned to Hong Kong’s historic Fanling course for 2026, the excitement was not confined to the individual performances of Latin stars like Carlos Ortiz or European veterans like Sergio Garcia. For a significant portion of the gallery, and for fans watching across Asia, the presence of Korean players on the LIV circuit brings a distinctly regional flavour to a tournament that is establishing itself as one of the crown jewels of the Asian golf calendar. Korean golf has long punched above its weight on the global stage. The LPGA Tour has been dominated by Korean talent for decades, and male Korean professionals have increasingly made their mark on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and now LIV Golf. The depth of golf culture in South Korea — from the academy system to the extraordinary range of practice facilities and the national television coverage that treats golf as a major sport — has produced a pipeline of world-class talent that makes Korea one of the game’s true powerhouses.
Fanling and the Asian Golf Tradition
Hong Kong Golf Club at Fanling holds a special place in Asian golf history. Founded in 1889 and operating the Fanling course from 1911, it is among the oldest golf clubs in Asia and has hosted international competition for over a century. The layout, a par-70 that rewards precision over power, is the kind of traditional British parkland design that suits players with excellent iron play and consistent short games — attributes that Korean professionals have in abundance from their structured training backgrounds. This year’s LIV Golf Hong Kong, the third consecutive edition at Fanling, has attracted the strongest field yet, with Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson and the entire depth of the LIV teams competing for a $25 million prize fund.
Golf as a Bridge Across Asia
The presence of a world-class professional golf tournament in Hong Kong carries meaning beyond sport. As the city navigates the political pressures of increased integration with mainland China, international events like LIV Golf Hong Kong provide moments of genuine global connection — where the best players in the world compete on equal terms and the result is determined by skill, not politics. The LIV Golf league, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has attracted players from across the globe and created a genuinely diverse field. The team format, unique to LIV, encourages camaraderie across nationalities and builds the kind of sporting community that transcends borders.
The Broader Picture
For Hong Kong’s sporting community, the LIV Golf event is a reminder that the city can still attract global sporting events of the highest calibre. The Hong Kong Marathon, the rugby Sevens and now LIV Golf form part of a sporting calendar that gives residents genuine world-class experiences close to home. The Hong Kong Golf Association works to develop the sport at all levels across the city. The Asian Golf Federation has noted the growth of the sport across the continent and the particular strength of the Korean pipeline as a model for other Asian golf development programmes. As Ortiz and Garcia battle for the 2026 title at Fanling, the Korean presence on the LIV circuit ensures that Asian golf fans have more reasons than ever to follow this tournament closely. The story of Asian golf and its rising global stature is still being written, and Hong Kong remains one of its most important chapters.
Printer & Journalist, Apple Daily UK
Contact: natalie.cheung@appledaily.uk
Natalie Cheung is a dual-discipline media professional whose career bridges journalism and print production, a rare combination that strengthens both editorial rigor and publishing reliability. Trained at a top-tier Chinese journalism institution, Natalie developed a strong foundation in news ethics, investigative reporting, and media law, before advancing into professional newsrooms serving Chinese-language audiences worldwide.
At Apple Daily and other liberal Chinese newspapers and magazines, Natalie has reported on civil society, cultural identity, media freedom, and grassroots political movements, with a focus on accuracy, sourcing discipline, and contextual clarity. Her reporting reflects first-hand newsroom experience during periods of political pressure, giving her work deep experiential authority rather than abstract commentary.
In parallel with reporting, Natalie is an experienced print production specialist, overseeing layout integrity, press coordination, and publication workflows. This operational expertise ensures that editorial content is not only truthful and well-sourced, but also faithfully preserved and distributed, an increasingly critical concern in the modern media environment.
Natalie’s work is informed by years inside independent Chinese media organizations that value transparency, pluralism, and public accountability. Her combined expertise in journalism and printing makes her a trusted professional across both editorial and production teams. She adheres to strict verification standards and is committed to protecting the historical record through responsible publishing.
