Folks, golfers – what a start to the 2026 LIV Golf season! Rookie Elvis Smylie clinched the win in Riyadh, and Anthony Kim triumphed in Adelaide in an (almost) inspiring fashion. The action is heating up, the stars are red-hot – and now? Now it's off to the HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong! The Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling, a slender 6,711-yard (6,138-meter) Par-70 course, is a real challenge! Narrow, demanding, and with its dense, tree-lined fairways and tiny, well-guarded greens, it's one of the most compact layouts in professional golf. Precision is everything here, folks! But hold on a second, who has the best chances in Hong Kong? We've put something together: Our DELOFTED Power Rankings for the HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong and all 13 teams!
1. Legion XIII
Jon Rahm's team is eager to finally secure their first team win of the season, after only finishing second at LIV Golf Adelaide. The Spaniard himself started his 2026 campaign with two consecutive second-place finishes – that's an impressive feat in itself! And his teammate Tyrrell Hatton? He bounced back strongly in Adelaide, finishing T3, after a rather forgettable start to the season in Riyadh (47th place!). And then there's Tom McKibbin! He has already won the Link Hong Kong Open on this very course. That's a huge advantage, as he knows the tricky layout like the back of his hand.
2. Ripper GC
Ripper GC has made a blistering start, snatching up both LIV Golf events so far. Their key signing of young talent Elvis Smylie paid off immediately in Adelaide. And the veterans of Ripper GC? They're really hitting their stride now! Lucas Herbert (a strong 4th in Hong Kong last season!) secured second place last week at the New Zealand Open, thereby booking his ticket for The Open Championship. He arrives here with tremendous momentum! He marked his LIV Golf season debut with a T9 in Riyadh and a T6 in Adelaide. Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman? Both were in the Top 10 in their last starts. Things are going well!
3. Torque GC
Torque GC arrives after a rather disappointing finish in Adelaide – having opened the season with a second-place finish in Riyadh. Joaquin Niemann's team finished 5th, but truly struggled to keep pace with the blistering speed of Ripper GC and Legion XIII. They were absolutely dialed in! However, the Hong Kong Golf Club could turn things around and create some really good vibes for Torque. In 2024, Abraham Ancer won the individual title here in Hong Kong – he and the course, that's clearly a perfect match! And Sebastian Munoz? He continues to be one of the league's most consistent performers, finishing in the Top 10 in both his starts in 2026 so far. He's on a roll!
