The ongoing political tensions in the Middle East created major travel complications for several players competing in LIV Golf, particularly those trying to reach Hong Kong for the latest tournament. During the chaos, Jon Rahm stepped in to help fellow golfers by organizing a private charter flight that allowed them to travel safely to the event. One of the players who benefited from Rahm’s generosity was Belgian golfer Thomas Detry, who later expressed his appreciation for the Spanish star’s help.
Speaking during a press conference ahead of the HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong 2026 tournament, Detry described Rahm’s gesture as remarkable. He explained that Rahm’s willingness to arrange the flight during such uncertain circumstances was incredibly generous. Detry even joked that he now feels obligated to repay Rahm in some way, suggesting that the best way to do that might be by performing well in the tournament.
Rahm organized the charter through his partnership with VistaJet. The private flight transported players from Oman to Hong Kong. Because many players had been stranded in Dubai due to the regional disruptions, they had to travel approximately four hours by car to Oman in order to board the flight. In total, seven players along with a caddie were able to secure seats on the plane.
Detry noted that Rahm’s help came at a crucial time, though he did have a backup travel plan in place. He had previously booked a flight with Emirates scheduled to depart for Hong Kong on Wednesday morning. That flight ultimately did take off, which means he would have still arrived later that night if he had used that option.
However, given the uncertain situation caused by the regional political conflicts, Detry and other players were not confident that the commercial flight would actually depart as planned. Even if it had, the timing would have been difficult since the tournament was scheduled to begin on Thursday morning. Arriving late on Wednesday night would have left little time for rest and preparation.
Detry also acknowledged Rahm’s leadership within the LIV Golf community, describing him as someone who stands out not only on the course but also in the locker room. The Belgian golfer made it clear that he respects Rahm greatly and wants to repay the favor in the best way he can.
Interestingly, Detry’s attempt to “repay” Rahm may come in the form of strong performance at the tournament—something that might not actually benefit Rahm in the end.
As the competition progressed at the Hong Kong event, Detry found himself performing exceptionally well. After two rounds of play, he held third place on the leaderboard with a score of 13-under par. That placed him just one shot behind the tournament leader, making him a serious contender for the title.
It appears that arriving earlier via Rahm’s charter flight gave Detry valuable time to rest and practice before the tournament began, which may have contributed to his strong showing.
Meanwhile, Rahm himself is also playing at a high level. The Spanish golfer produced an impressive second-round score of 8-under 62, but he still trails Detry by a single stroke. Rahm currently sits in fourth place with a total score of 12-under par.
With the tournament heading into the final rounds over the weekend, the competition between the two European players could become very tight. If Detry ultimately wins the event, Rahm might jokingly regret helping him get to Hong Kong so quickly—since the player he helped could end up beating him for the championship.