It is an unfortunate reality that global events can impact the world of sports. The 1936 Olympics in Berlin were greatly criticized because of Hitler’s ongoing rise in power. In 1980, the US led a boycott of the Olympics after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. In 2020, all sports leagues were impacted by the Covid 19 pandemic. Now, another conflict in the Middle East is affecting golf. Namely, the war breaking out with Iran, leaving many stranded in surrounding countries, among the stranded are LIV golfers.
How The War Is Affecting The Players
With the war breaking out in Iran, the country has retaliated against US allies in the area. These allies include Israel, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai. The attacks have made it unsafe to fly; as a result, flights were cancelled, and airports were closed. As reported by Flushing It, players are trying to secure flights as soon as they can.
“We understand that players are booked onto multiple flights later today, with the safety of themselves and their families of the most importance. Some are scheduled to fly from Oman to Thailand and then on to Hong Kong, while others are hoping to get a direct flight from Dubai.”
The LIV golfers in question are going to have a rough time making it to the event, but that is the least of their worries at the moment. As stated, some are trying their hands in the direct route that the Dubai airports usually offer, while others are trying layover flights. With the possibility of being grounded at any time, concerns are not with the upcoming event.
LIV Golf May Be Short On Players
All this comes ahead of the LIV Golf Hong Kong event. The Flushing It report stated that, at the time, the event was just 36 hours away. At the time of writing, eight players are stuck in the Middle East as the war heats up. Those players are Lee Westwood, Laurie Canter, Sam Horsfield, Adrian Meronk, Thomas Detry, Caleb Surratt, Tom McKibbin, and Anirban Lahiri. These LIV players are doing what they can to get themselves and their families out of the area. There is no guarantee that they will make it to Hong Kong in time for the event. However, their efforts are more focused on safety rather than the sport. As for the event itself, there are reserve players who will step up to fill any openings should they come up.
What This Means For LIV Golf And Other Leagues In The Area
For 2026, depending on how this conflict unfolds, golf fans should expect delays and rescheduling for any event in the Middle East. With LIV Golf based in Saudi Arabia, LIV fans can expect many more if the HQ isn’t temporarily relocated. As for the eight LIV players, they are doing what they can to get to a safer point. They may not make it in time for the Hong Kong event, but what’s more important is that they just get to safety as soon as possible.
Main Photo Credit: © Tyrone Siu/Reuters via Imagn Images
