Thomas Detry thanks Jon Rahm for organising flight to attend LIV Golf Hong Kong as pair set to battle for title - 'Had a bit of a nightmare'
Updated 06/03/2026 at 16:55 GMT
Thomas Detry thanked Jon Rahm for providing a chartered flight for him to reach the LIV Golf Hong Kong event after he was stranded in the Middle East following flight cancellations. The Belgian is just a shot behind Rahm after the opening two rounds, with the Spaniard hitting the lowest score of day two, an eight-under-par 62, to pull him into fourth, a shot behind Detry, who sits on -13.
'Ace!' - McDowell makes 'perfect' hole-in-one in Hong Kong
Video credit: TNT Sports
Jon Rahm hit an eight-under-par 62 on day two of the 2026 LIV Golf Hong Kong event, but he may be regretting his generosity to help rival Thomas Detry travel to Hong Kong.
Rahm hit the best score of the day to draw him two shots off the lead behind leading pair Dean Burmester and Carlos Ortiz on -14, while Belgian Detry is sandwiched in between the three on -13.
Rahm’s day consisted of an eagle, seven birdies and a bogey, as he closed the gap with Ortiz, who hit a 10-under 60 on day one to take the early lead, and Burmester, who shot a -8 and -6 on the first two days.
Detry enjoyed a fine day too, adding a 63 to his first day score of 64 and the world No. 70 was delighted to have started so well, after turbulent travel arrangements as a result of having to travel through the Middle East almost resulted in him not making it.
That was until Rahm stepped in and chartered a plane to ensure Detry could compete.
Upon reaching the clubhouse on day two, Detry said: "I didn't know what to expect when I teed off yesterday morning.
"I got here Wednesday morning, so I had a bit of a nightmare getting here with all the travel through the Middle East, but I made it and got off to a good start [in round one] and I guess I just kept playing well, kept the momentum going that I had yesterday.
"My first hole today I think I holed a 35-footer or something like that, so that just put me straight back into it, and then I was just cruising.
"I've got to pay that plane back, so I'd better play well hopefully to be able to pay that back.
- Garcia reveals tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz's talent for golf in amusing interview during LIV Golf Hong Kong
- Play halted as drone crashes into tree during opening round of LIV Golf Hong Kong - 'It was like me flying that!'
"That was incredibly generous from Jon, with all the uncertainty. In hindsight, I was booked on an Emirates flight to Hong Kong on Wednesday morning, and it actually took off.
"So I would have been here on Wednesday night late, but obviously that was very unknown on Tuesday."
Last year’s winner Sergio Garcia, who began the week with a 63, fell down the pecking order into tied 14th after only managing a 69 on day two after bogies on the 14th and 18th countered the birdies made on the previous holes.
He is level with Talor Gooch and Laurie Canter on -8, six shots off the lead.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/03/06/image-8ed91c85-10d0-45a3-9ee9-ca1e33398859-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
'Ace!' - McDowell makes 'perfect' hole-in-one in Hong Kong
Video credit: TNT Sports
Graeme McDowell hit the second successive hole in one, following on from Victor Perez on day one, on the fifth hole, on a top day for the Northern Irishman, whose -7 for the day lifted him to -10, tied with Harold Varner III in eighth.
LIV Golf Adelaide winner Anthony Kim could not back up his opening day score of -3, falling way off the pace with a two-over par 72.
Double bogies on the par 3 second and the par 4 sixth saw him scrambling to remain under par, which he duly achieved with birdies on the 14th and the 18th.
Right behind Rahm is trio Matthew Wolff, David Puig and Richard Bland on -11 in tied fifth after the trio finished with scores of -6, -6 and -7 respectively.
Watch and stream the LIV Golf season live on TNT Sports.
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement