LIV Golf uses Jon Rahm’s jet in Middle East rescue mission for 7 players stranded by war
Spaniard’s private plane dispatched to collect teammates and others caught in travel limbo because of conflict in region
There will be a full field for HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong this week, after seven players stranded by the conflict in the Middle East finally made it to the city on Wednesday.
The league had been working for several days to arrange transport for the group, which also included families, and was eventually able to get them out of the war-torn region.
A source said updates on what was happening had deliberately been kept to a minimum out of care and concern for the group’s safety.
And as part of an effort the source called “a coordinated effort between the league and the teams”, Jon Rahm’s private jet was sent to Oman to pick up the group, some of whom had been in Dubai and were bused across the border for the flight.
Two of Rahm’s Legion XIII teammates, Caleb Surratt and Tom McKibbin, were among those who had been left in travel limbo by the US and Israel’s decision to bomb Iran.
Others who arrived late in the city ahead of Thursday’s first round were Lee Westwood, Laurie Canter, Sam Horsfield, Adrian Meronk, Thomas Detry and Anirban Lahiri.