GOLF: LIV’s Thomas Detry shares war zone-to-tourney reality

Count Thomas Detry among the many pro athletes whose immediate future became uncertain after U.S. and Israel airstrikes in Iran last weekend.

Detry, a Belgium native who played four years at Illinois, resides in Dubai. The airspace in the United Arab Emirates was temporarily closed following the U.S. strikes, creating major travel disruptions.

Detry needed to fly to Hong Kong ahead of LIV Golf’s third event of the season, held Thursday at Hong Kong Golf Club. Once airspace reopened, Golf.com reported that Spanish LIV star Jon Rahm arranged a private jet to transport seven LIV players, including Detry, and a caddie from Oman to Hong Kong.

“I mean, two days ago I was at the border in the UAE, and I was like, ‘There's absolutely no chance of teeing it up out here in Hong Kong,’ and here I am jumping on a plane, which was unbelievable,” Detry said. “Obviously that made it so much easier for us because I don't think I would have been able to get here otherwise. Quite a 48 hours I've had. I have spent a lot of time sitting in a chair, and not a very comfortable chair. That's why I was pretty worried about my body, but everything seems to be responding pretty well.”

Detry’s perseverance paid off, as he opened the tournament with a 6-under-par 64, tying for seventh and four shots behind Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz, who set the early lead.

“I feel really good,” Detry said. “My worry was being tired and completely out of it. I arrived Wednesday morning and had over 24 hours to recover, do some gym work, and see my physio. I’ve been here before a couple of times with the DP World Tour, so I knew the place and the course. I feel like I played some really good golf and made some nice putts. Missed a couple of short ones, but I can’t complain because I made some long ones, too. It was fun out there.”

-Field Level Media/Reuters