Report: Jon Rahm pays for private jet to rescue stranded LIV Golf players

Jon Rahm commissioned a private jet to save a group of stranded LIV Golf players, according to a report. 

Eight players from the breakaway tour were practicing in Dubai ahead of this week's event in Hong Kong. 

But they were unable to get out as flights were cancelled and airports closed following the joint US-Israel airstrikes on Iran last Saturday and the subsequent retaliation.  

FlushingIt reported the stranded players were Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Sam Horsfield, Anirban Lahiri, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Caleb Surratt and Lee Westwood. 

Surratt told Golf Channel via text message that it was "terrifying" after the "world came undone on Saturday". 

The American said it was "bad on Sunday" but on Tuesday it was as "back to normal life" with people going about their daily business. 

All eight players are now clear of the danger zone, though. Meronk was the first to confirm he made it safely to Fanling. 

GOLF's Alan Bastable claimed Rahm was at the heart of the rescue mission. 

"Just learned the LIV players stranded in the Middle East have arrived safely in Hong Kong on a private jet commissioned by their LIV stablemate Jon Rahm," Bastable wrote, citing an anonymous source.

He added LIV also had a contingency plan in lace that involved the players flying to London, but the private jet was "easier".  

"The source said the players took ground transport from Dubai to the Oman border, then had to exit the vehicle and walk approx a mile with their bags and clubs to another pickup point from where they were driven to the airstrip where the jet was waiting for them," he added.

Bastable later added the players did not walk from the border to the pick-up point, but were instead transported by a bus. 

LIV Golf's third event of the season begins on Thursday. 

Australia's Elvis Smylie won the first tournament of the season in Riyadh. 

While Anthony Kim claimed an unlikely victory two weeks ago in Adelaide. It was his first professional win since he returned to the sport following a 12-year absence in 2024.

The aforementioned Rahm lead's the individual standings. 

Rahm accuses DPWT of extortion

Rahm also hit the headlines this week as he explained why he was not among a group of eight LIV Golf players who have settled a long-running dispute with the DP World Tour.

The Spaniard has been fined by the DPWT for competing in LIV events without tournament releases. 

Eight players accepted a proposal by the DPWT that will see them be able to participate in both organisations' tournaments without being penalised. 

In return, they had to commit to extra events and withdraw their appeals. 

Rahm told reporters he "could not agree" to those conditions. 

Although he said he would've signed the agreement had he been asked to participate in four events on the schedule and not six. 

"I don't know what game they're trying to play right now," he said.

"But it just seems like in a way they're using us to (capitalize on) our impact in tournaments and fining us and trying to benefit both ways from what we have to offer.

"And it's just in a way they're extorting players like myself and young players that have nothing to do with the politics of the game."

He added: "Now, I did tell them, funny enough, lower that to four events, like the minimum says, and I'll sign tonight.

"They haven't agreed to that. I just refuse to play six events. I don't want to, and that's not what the rules say."

The dispute threatens his involvement in next year's Ryder Cup at Adare Manor.