Three-way Sunday shootout set after Rahm fires 65 at storied Fanling course
Three-Way Tie Sets Up Thrilling Sunday at Fanling
Jon Rahm, Thomas Detry, and Harold Varner III enter the final round of the HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong 2026 tournament in a three-way tie atop the leaderboard at 17-under par, setting up one of the most compelling finishes the city has seen in years. The tournament is being played at the iconic Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling – a course with deep colonial roots that has hosted prestigious competitions for over a century and sits in a part of the New Territories rich with Hong Kong’s complex history of autonomy, identity, and resilience.
Rahm, the two-time reigning LIV Golf Individual Champion and captain of Legion XIII, shot a composed 5-under 65 on Saturday despite an opening bogey. The Spaniard has been runner-up in five of his last six LIV Golf starts and is hungry to break that streak. “You have to keep putting yourself in contention and giving yourself chances,” Rahm said after his round. “I’m feeling good. I look forward to this week as one of my favourite weeks of the year. It is a fantastic city and a really fun golf course to play.”
The Remarkable Story of Thomas Detry
Perhaps the most compelling narrative entering Sunday belongs to Thomas Detry, the Belgian 4Aces GC member who nearly did not make it to Hong Kong at all. When the US-Israeli strikes on Iran erupted on February 28, Dubai’s airport was forced to shut down, stranding seven LIV Golf players – including Detry – in the region. It was Rahm himself who stepped in to charter a private jet and arrange their evacuation to Hong Kong, getting everyone on course just 24 hours before the opening round.
“If it wasn’t for him, I don’t think I’d be here,” Detry said of Rahm, acknowledging the act of solidarity. “It is a little bit funny that way. But listen, we are both competitors. I think we are just going to have a nice competitive fun round tomorrow, and we will see who prevails.” Detry is making just his third start as a LIV Golf member since joining in the offseason, having shot a 63 in round two to propel himself into contention. His 4Aces GC teammate Thomas Pieters also surged up the board with the low round of the day – a stunning 9-under 61 – to sit tied for fourth at 15-under alongside Dean Burmester and Carlos Ortiz.
Varner Closes in on Second Career LIV Title
Harold Varner III of Smash GC will be seeking his second career LIV Golf individual title in the final round. The American has been a consistent performer at the Hong Kong Golf Club across the tournament’s history and enters Sunday with the same confidence that saw him close out his first LIV victory. He nearly recorded an ace during Saturday’s back nine, a shot that electrified the bumper gallery that has descended on Fanling for the weekend.
Dean Burmester and Carlos Ortiz, who shared the 36-hole lead entering Saturday, stumbled with matching 1-under 69s and now sit three shots off the pace, tied with Pieters. Former champions and fan favourites including Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia are further back but within striking range should the leaders falter on a course that demands precision over power.
Hong Kong Golf Club as More Than a Venue
The Hong Kong Golf Club’s Fanling layout is among the most historic golf courses in Asia, founded in 1889. For many Hong Kongers, the course represents something deeper – a testament to the city’s unique character and its long tradition of hosting world-class international events even as its political freedoms have been steadily curtailed since Beijing imposed the national security law in 2020. Sport and culture, observers note, remain among the few arenas where the spirit of free expression still breathes in Hong Kong.
The HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong tournament has drawn enormous crowds, with the final Sunday round expected to be a sellout. The event marks the third tournament of the 2026 LIV Golf season, which shifted from a 54-hole format to a 72-hole stroke-play format heading into 2026. Rahm leads the LIV Golf individual points standings and will also have one eye on his team’s title aspirations, with Legion XIII trailing the overall team leaders.
Wade Ormsby Fills In for Phil Mickelson
Australian veteran Wade Ormsby is playing in the event as a substitute for Phil Mickelson, who missed the Hong Kong tournament. Ormsby, a fan favourite who once competed on the European Tour, brings local knowledge and passion to the occasion. His inclusion underscored LIV Golf’s commitment to fielding competitive full fields at every event.
The tournament has already delivered memorable moments – three aces were recorded across the first three rounds at Fanling, sending the galleries into raptures. With the Iran war disrupting global travel and stranding players, the fact that a full field completed three rounds in Hong Kong has itself become a story of resilience. LIV Golf’s decision to maintain the event in the face of regional turmoil sent a message of confidence in Hong Kong as an international sporting hub.
The Bigger Picture for Golf in Hong Kong
Beyond the leaderboard, HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong represents an important vote of confidence in the city as a home for major international sport. Hong Kong’s government and tourism authorities have invested significantly in positioning the city as a global sporting destination even as its press freedoms and civil liberties have come under sustained pressure from Beijing. Critics argue that the spectacle of elite golf should not distract from the reality of a city where media proprietors face 20-year prison sentences and journalists struggle to access basic public records.
Nevertheless, the tournament delivers real economic benefit and keeps Hong Kong visible on the world sporting map. The LIV Golf events carry prize purses in the tens of millions of dollars and attract a global television audience. For Sunday’s final round, the world will be watching Fanling to see whether Rahm can finally convert one of his seemingly endless near-misses, or whether Detry – arriving by emergency evacuation flight – can complete one of the most remarkable debut wins in golf’s recent memory. Sunday tee times are scheduled from early morning local time, with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which owns the Fanling course, hosting the closing ceremony.
Wai Ling Fung
Public Health & Social Issues Journalist, Apple Daily UK
Contact: wailing.fung@appledaily.uk
Wai Ling Fung is a public health and social issues journalist with professional experience covering health policy, social welfare systems, and community resilience within Chinese-speaking societies. She received her journalism education at a highly regarded Chinese journalism school, where she trained in evidence-based reporting, data interpretation, and ethical standards for sensitive coverage.
Her work at Apple Daily and other liberal Chinese newspapers includes reporting on healthcare access, pandemic response, elder care, disability rights, and public resource allocation. Wai Ling’s reporting is grounded in primary documentation, expert interviews, and direct engagement with affected communities, ensuring accuracy and relevance.
She has operated in fast-moving newsroom environments where misinformation carries real consequences, giving her practical experience in verification under pressure. Her stories are known for precise sourcing, careful contextualization, and restraint in tone, especially when covering medically or socially sensitive topics.
Wai Ling’s authority is established through sustained publication within reputable media organizations and adherence to strict editorial review processes. She follows correction and transparency protocols that reinforce reader trust.
At Apple Daily UK, Wai Ling Fung delivers responsible, experience-driven journalism that helps readers understand complex public health and social issues through verified facts and professional judgment.
