Hong Kong – Jon Rahm is within striking distance of ending a title drought that stretches back to September 2024, as he heads into the final round of the HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong tied for the lead with Thomas Detry and Harold Varner III. The trio share the top spot at 17-under par after three rounds at the Hong Kong Golf Club, holding a two-shot advantage over their nearest competitors.
Rahm’s journey to this position has been marked by a remarkable act of sportsmanship. He played a pivotal role in arranging travel for several LIV Golf players, including Detry, who were stranded in Dubai following disruptions to air travel. Now, the two will battle it out for the individual title on Sunday, a scenario that Detry acknowledges wouldn’t have been possible without Rahm’s intervention.
“If it wasn’t for him, I don’t think I’d be here,” Detry said, reflecting on Rahm’s assistance. “We’re both competitors and he’s done it for his teammates, for the league. It’s amazing what he did, and he’s a good friend of mine. We’ve played a lot of golf together. I think we’re just going to have a nice competitive fun round tomorrow, and we’ll see who prevails.”
Rahm, who has finished as runner-up in consecutive events to start the 2026 LIV Golf season, is focused on converting his strong form into a victory. “You have to keep putting yourself in contention and giving yourself chances,” Rahm stated. “As long as I’m doing that, I’m playing good golf, taking advantage of the opportunities I get, but it’ll come. As I’m playing solid golf, I’m hoping tomorrow I have a good Sunday and get it done.”
The Spaniard carded a 5-under 65 on Saturday to climb into the tie for the lead. Detry followed with a 4-under 66, while Varner III posted a stellar 63. The group will tee off Sunday vying for the title at Greater China’s oldest championship course.
Rahm has come close to securing a win recently. At the LIV Golf Riad event, he posted a 9-under par round, the best of the tournament’s opening day, but ultimately finished second to Elvis Smylie. A week later in Adelaide, he led the competition after the second round and entered the final round tied with Bryson DeChambeau, only to be overtaken by a resurgent Anthony Kim, who mounted a remarkable comeback.
Despite the near misses, Rahm remains optimistic. He acknowledges the need to capitalize on his opportunities, especially against opponents who haven’t consistently demonstrated a strong closing game. Behind the leading trio, Thomas Pieters, Dean Burmester, and Carlos Ortiz are poised to challenge, sitting at 15-under par.
Saturday’s round wasn’t without its challenges for Rahm. He navigated a windy course and encountered some setbacks, including a ball in the water on the 10th hole and a difficult recovery from the rough on the 11th. Still, he demonstrated resilience, making crucial birdies on the 3rd, 7th, 9th, 13th, 14th, and 16th holes.
A missed putt on the 15th prevented him from taking the outright lead, but he quickly regained momentum with a birdie on the 16th. A par on the 18th, despite a wayward tee shot, secured his position heading into the final round. Rahm has now recorded 19 consecutive rounds under par, a new LIV Golf record. Since the first round of the LIV Golf UK event in July, he has accumulated a score of -84, averaging 4.42 strokes under par per day – a feat unmatched by any other player.
Other Spanish players in the field include Sergio García, currently in eighth place at 13-under par, within the top-10 and in contention for world ranking points. David Puig is just outside the top-10 at 10-under, while Josele Ballester finished at par and Luis Masaveu remains near the bottom of the leaderboard.
In the team competition, Rahm’s Legion XIII team sits in third place at 41-under par, one stroke behind the 4Aces team of Detry and Pieters, and three strokes behind the Smash team led by Varner. The team aspect adds another layer of intrigue to the final round.
The final round of the HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong is set to begin Sunday, with Rahm, Detry, and Varner III teeing off as the final group. Golf fans can follow the action to see if Rahm can finally break through and claim his first individual LIV Golf victory since 2024.
The final round of the HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong will be played on Sunday, March 8th.
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