LIV Golf Hong Kong 2026: Round 2 Brings More Low Scores and Tight at the Top

Carlos Ortiz of Torque GC maintained his strong form with a 4-under 66 in Round 2, keeping him tied at the top of the leaderboard at HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong 2026. Ortiz described a round that started roughly, with early struggles off the tee and a need to scramble, but he emphasized his focus on adapting to swing changes. “I wasn’t in position a lot in the first few holes,” Ortiz said. “I’m just trying to get good reps. My swing has changed a little bit and the feels have changed.” He noted the course remained soft and playable, similar to previous days, with beautiful weather contributing to consistent scoring opportunities.

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Dean Burmester of Southern Guards GC also made a move to the top, building on momentum from earlier rounds despite a stiff start to his day. “I woke up a little stiff. I slept a bit funny,” Burmester said, crediting physio work before the round for turning things around. He highlighted the importance of positional play on Fanling’s shorter layout, where driving accuracy and wedge play are key. “When I get to a golf course like this, I love it so much because you don’t have to hit it that far. You’ve just got to position your ball right,” he explained, adding that he aims to hang in contention like “a bad fart” until the opportunity to win presents itself.

Jon Rahm of Legion XIII delivered a strong 8-under performance, crediting his putter as the MVP of the day with numerous mid-range makes from 15 to 20 feet. “Made a lot of good putts, made a lot of mid-range putts,” Rahm said. “It was a fun day on the greens.” He acknowledged needing better ball-striking moving forward, especially with weekend conditions expected to toughen, but remained optimistic about staying in the hunt. Rahm also praised the supportive Adelaide-like atmosphere in Hong Kong, noting the crowd’s energy helps fuel low scoring.

Thomas Detry of 4Aces GC kept his momentum rolling with continued solid play, crediting recovery from a challenging travel week and a beneficial break from hitting balls. “I feel really good, pretty much like yesterday,” Detry said. “I got here Wednesday morning so I had a bit of a nightmare getting here… but I made it and got off to a good start yesterday and I guess I just kept playing well.” He described the course as highly gettable with wedges into most greens, predicting a “birdie fest” over the weekend despite potential wind.

Graeme McDowell of Smash GC posted a 7-under 63, including a hole-in-one on the fifth with a 7-iron. “Nice to do it with a card in your pocket in a tournament,” McDowell said. He praised the course’s condition and the team dynamic under new captain Talor Gooch, noting the extra motivation of playing for more than individual results. “Golf is an incredibly individual sport, but when you’re going for that sort of team victory, as well, it’s a lot of fun,” he added.

With 18 holes remaining, the leaderboard remains tightly packed, and players across the field emphasized patience and execution on a course that rewards precision and rewards low scores when conditions allow. The forecast for increased wind over the weekend promises to test the field further, setting the stage for a compelling final two days at Hong Kong Golf Club.

Quotes, data, and photos courtesy LIV Golf