Eight LIV Golf players are currently stranded in the Middle East and may not reach this week’s event in Hong Kong, according to reports.
A host of the Saudi-backed circuit’s membership was practicing in Dubai ahead of LIV’s Asian tour stop, yet have been unable to leave due to airport closures following strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran over the weekend. Dubai—along with sites in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman—have been bombed in retaliatory strikes by Iran. The social media account Flushing It first reported that Lee Westwood, Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Sam Horsfield, Anirban Lahiri, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk and Caleb Surratt are the players in question.
“It was terrifying,” Surratt told Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine on Tuesday via text about being in the region when the bombing occurred. “But since then, it’s been OK. It was bad Sunday and Monday here with missile interceptions, but all day today was fine.”
Surratt, a former Walker Cup player, was attempting to find a way to Oman in hopes of catching a flight to Hong Kong from there. Flushing It also reported the other players have flights booked, although it is unknown if they will make it to Hong Kong in time for Thursday’s opening round.
Westwood, Canter and Horsfield all play on the same LIV team, while McKibbin and Surratt are a part of Jon Rahm’s club.
The U.S. Department of State on Monday called on Americans to immediately depart more than a dozen countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, amid the growing conflict.
As of writing LIV Golf has not released a statement regarding the situation.
Article originally appeared on: GolfDigest.com
