World golf stars descend on Asia as Anthony Kim makes his mark and Jon Rahm chases glory at the game’s oldest Asian venue
LIV Golf Sets Its Sights on Hong Kong
The third edition of HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong gets underway at the legendary Hong Kong Golf Club at Fanling from March 5 to 8, 2026, bringing elite international golf back to one of Asia’s most storied sporting venues. The event is the third consecutive tournament of the 2026 LIV Golf season, following stops in Riyadh and Adelaide, and forms the opening leg of a grueling stretch of three tournaments across three countries and two continents. Hong Kong Golf Club at Fanling holds a unique place in the sporting world. Established in 1889, it is the oldest championship golf course in Asia and one of only two golf clubs in the world — alongside Augusta National — to have hosted the same professional tournament for more than 60 consecutive years. It received the prestigious Award of Distinction at the 2023 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
A Field Packed With Narratives
The 57-player field brings storylines in abundance. Defending individual champion Sergio Garcia returns to Fanling after his 2025 victory, and his Fireballs GC squad also enters as defending team champions, having swept both trophies last year. Garcia and Fireballs GC secured a three-event winning streak in 2025 that made them one of the dominant forces in LIV Golf. But the spotlight this week falls most intensely on Anthony Kim, the American who stunned the golf world with his comeback from a 12-year retirement when he joined LIV Golf in 2024. Kim arrived in Hong Kong fresh from winning the LIV Golf Adelaide tournament — his first victory as a full member of 4Aces GC after previously competing as an independent wild card. His return to form has been one of sport’s most compelling comeback stories.
Ripper GC Riding High After Historic Start
Australia’s Ripper GC, captained by Cameron Smith, enter Hong Kong after becoming the first LIV Golf team to win the opening two tournaments of any season. Their back-to-back titles in Riyadh and Adelaide have set the tone for what promises to be a fiercely contested season. Smith’s leadership of the all-Australian squad has been instrumental in turning Ripper GC into a dominant force, and their momentum heading into Hong Kong makes them a formidable team title contender.
Jon Rahm Searching for That Elusive Win
Two-time defending individual champion Jon Rahm of Legion XIII has been the definition of agonizing consistency in 2026 — finishing solo second in each of the first two tournaments and runner-up in four of the last six LIV Golf regular season events. Rahm’s precision and experience make him the favorite in many observers’ eyes, but converting that consistency into a title remains the challenge defining his 2026 campaign. Legion XIII’s Tom McKibbin arrives in Hong Kong as a player with local knowledge, having won the 2025 Hong Kong Open — held at the same Fanling course — by seven strokes. That familiarity with the layout could prove decisive in a tournament where course knowledge matters.
The Fanling Challenge: Course Notes
The Hong Kong Golf Club composite layout used for LIV Golf stretches to 6,711 yards with a par of 70. The course is not the longest on the LIV circuit but demands precision over power. The par-5 13th hole was the equal easiest hole in LIV Golf during 2025, averaging 0.78 under par across the tournament, while the dogleg-left 493-yard ninth — the longest par 4 on the course — has proven the most difficult hole in each of the first two LIV Golf Hong Kong events. The par-4 fourth at just 288 yards is drivable under soft conditions but has not yet yielded an eagle in LIV Golf competition. The 13th and 17th holes share a large double green, creating the potential for lengthy putts and critical errors.
Broadcast and Weather
American viewers can follow all four rounds on Fox Sports channels, with coverage running through the small hours of the morning given the time difference. Weather forecasts for the tournament period predict temperatures in the high 60s to 70 degrees Fahrenheit with partly cloudy skies and moderate winds from the northeast — conditions that should produce fast, competitive scoring. The field stroke average in 2025 was nearly 68 strokes on the par-70 course, suggesting players find Fanling scoring-friendly once they lock in. For golf fans in Hong Kong and across Asia, LIV Golf’s continued commitment to the region is a welcome sign of the sport’s expanding international footprint. The Hong Kong Golf Club remains one of Asia’s premier sporting institutions, and its partnership with LIV Golf has elevated the profile of professional golf in a city that remains one of the world’s most dynamic sporting capitals. Those wishing to follow the full international golf calendar can find rankings and context at the Official World Golf Ranking site, which tracks how LIV Golf results feed into the broader global picture. For local Hong Kong sports enthusiasts, this week’s tournament at Fanling is a rare opportunity to watch some of the sport’s biggest names compete in their own backyard. With Garcia, Kim, Rahm, and Smith all in the field, the 2026 HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong promises to deliver world-class golf at one of Asia’s most historic and beloved venues.
Ching Yi Ho
Legal Affairs & Rule of Law Journalist, Apple Daily UK
Contact: chingyi.ho@appledaily.uk
Ching Yi Ho is a legal affairs journalist specializing in rule of law, judicial systems, and civil rights reporting. Educated at a top-tier UK journalism institution, she received formal training in court reporting, legal documentation analysis, and media law, providing a strong foundation for accurate legal journalism.
She has reported for Apple Daily and other liberal Chinese publications on court cases, legislative developments, constitutional issues, and legal impacts on civil society. Ching Yi’s work emphasizes precision in legal terminology, careful sourcing, and clear explanation of complex legal processes for general audiences.
Her newsroom experience includes coverage of politically sensitive legal cases, where accuracy, neutrality, and source protection are critical. Editors rely on her ability to interpret judgments and statutes without speculation or editorial distortion.
Ching Yi’s authority comes from consistent, fact-based reporting within established media institutions and her adherence to editorial standards governing legal accuracy and corrections. She maintains transparent attribution and clear distinctions between reporting and analysis.
At Apple Daily UK, Ching Yi Ho provides trustworthy legal journalism rooted in professional experience, subject-matter expertise, and respect for the public record.
