Harold Varner III moved to 17-under and into a share of the lead at LIV Golf Hong Kong after an impressive third-round 63. In this interview, he reflects on his form, his approach game, the windy conditions, his comfort in Hong Kong, and the opportunity to win going into Sunday. He is second in strokes gained on approach shots for the week.
HONG KONG – Harold Varner III delivered an impressive performance at the 2026 HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong event on Saturday, March 7, demonstrating both consistency and aggressive scoring that kept him in contention among some of the league’s biggest stars. Competing at the historic Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling, the American golfer emerged as one of the tournament’s standout players during a tightly contested week on the LIV Golf calendar.
Varner, representing Smash GC, surged into the spotlight during the third round with a brilliant 7-under-par 63, a round that vaulted him into a three-way tie for the lead at 17-under-par alongside Jon Rahm and Thomas Detry heading into the final day. The performance highlighted Varner’s aggressive style and ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities on a course known for rewarding precise iron play and confident putting.
One of the key factors in Varner’s strong showing was his approach play. Statistical analysis from the event placed him second in strokes gained on approach shots for the week, demonstrating exceptional control with his irons. His ability to attack pins and create birdie chances kept him firmly on the leaderboard as the tournament progressed. Varner also excelled on the course’s short holes, ranking among the leaders in performance on par-3s, where his accuracy off the tee helped set up multiple birdie opportunities.
The 35-year-old American, known for his upbeat personality and fearless shot-making, credited his comfort on par-3 holes for part of his success during the week, joking that starting from the fairway “is great.” His relaxed demeanor and positive energy have long been part of his identity on tour, helping him thrive under pressure in competitive situations.
Varner’s performance in Hong Kong also reinforced his status as a key contributor for Smash GC, the team captained by Brooks Koepka. As LIV Golf continues to emphasize both individual and team competition, Varner’s strong play helped keep Smash GC competitive in the team standings throughout the event.
A veteran of both the PGA Tour and international circuits, Varner turned professional in 2012 and has earned victories around the world, including the 2016 Australian PGA Championship and the 2023 LIV Golf Washington, D.C. event, his first win on the LIV circuit. His journey from practicing on a makeshift hole near his home in North Carolina to competing against the world’s best golfers reflects his perseverance and growing influence in the sport.
At the HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong tournament, Varner III once again proved he belongs among golf’s elite, showcasing the kind of dynamic play that keeps fans watching and competitors on alert. With strong ball-striking and confident scoring, his performance in Hong Kong added another memorable chapter to an already impressive career. ⛳”
Rahm helped to organize a private charter from the Middle East for seven LIV Golf players – including Detry, as well as Rahm’s Legion XIII teammates Caleb Surratt and Tom McKibbin – who were stranded when the recent conflict closed the airport in Dubai. He was happy to do so, even if he now has to outduel Detry for the title.
“The way I see it is it’s simply my duty,” Rahm said. “I was raised with certain values, that if you have the ability and capability of helping somebody, especially in a scenario like that where my main focus essentially was getting them out of there, not necessarily playing a tournament. I remember telling Caleb earlier in the week, how about you forget about playing the tournament and we focus on getting you to safety and then we’ll see if you can get to Hong Kong.
“With the ever-changing environment, it looked kind of dark for a second. For a second, at one point, if they went through a different extraction plan, they were going to go to Europe. I was trying to help people in Spain to get them set up to practice in Spain. It looked like coming here was going to be hard. But yeah, here they are. Never thought they would be able to come. It’s amazing that so many of them are safe and that’s the most important thing.”
Rahm and Detry aren’t alone at the top, as Smash GC’s Harold Varner fired a 7-under 63 to vault himself into a share of the lead. Varner III ranks second for the week in Strokes Gained Approach (+7.50) and first in Strokes Gained Off the Tee on the par 3s.
Varner III, flashing his signature grin, summed up his love for the par 3s perfectly: “Yeah, it’s nice. Par 3s, you get to start from the fairway, so it’s great.”
The 36-hole co-leader, Carlos Ortiz, had an up-and-down day. The Torque GC veteran made the turn at even par after bogeys on holes eight and nine before rebounding nicely with four birdies in his first five holes on the back nine to briefly climb back to 17 under before missing short par putts on holes 16 and 18 to fall two adrift of the lead.
Southern Guards GC’s Dean Burmester shared the co-lead with Ortiz entering Saturday but failed to keep up with the scoring, posting a bogey-free 1-under 69 to reach the clubhouse at 15 under, two shots back of the lead with Ortiz and 4Aces GC’s Thomas Pieters, who had the round of the day with a 9-under 61.
“I’m gutted,” Burmester admitted after the round. “I don’t feel like I did too much wrong, honestly. Maybe tried a little too hard. I don’t know. I hit some amazing golf shots out there. I hit some poor ones, probably on the wrong holes. Hit some great shots. I went bogey-free. Just didn’t make any putts. Got to find a way to lift myself up tomorrow and give it a go.”
Smash GC clings to a narrow two-stroke team lead, powered by Varner III’s scorching round, but with six teams lurking within six strokes, that gap could be eliminated in just a few holes. Expect an exhilarating shootout on Sunday’s team leaderboard.
