China's Li on brink of global glory at WGC Champions

Joy Chakravarty 19:55 07/11/2015
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  • Poster boy: Li Haotong.

    The 20-year-old Chinese, a poster boy of HSBC-China Golf Association Junior Programme, reached a position no player from his country has ever done before, tying for second place at 15-under par in the WGC-HSBC Champions on Saturday after a brilliant round of six-under par 66.

    The previous best by a Chinese player in the tournament was Zhang Liang-wei’s tied 13th place in 2011, but Haotong has a real chance of becoming the first WGC winner from his country.

    Haotong, who started his third round in sensational fashion on Saurday, making four birdies in his first four holes, has modest ambitions however. He’d be happy with a top-10 finish, and not even thinking of a win.

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    When asked if he thought he could win on Sunday, Haotong replied immediately: “No. I don’t think so.

    “This tournament is so big – it’s too big.  I know that the final day, a lot of people are going to be making a lot of birdies. That’s why I thought my goal of this tournament would be making the top 10, because making the top 10 will already be a highlight and a milestone for my short career.

    “I hope that I can do well and finish at the position where I want to.”

    A huge gallery and a large contingent of local photographers followed the Chinese youngster, playing in the group behind the leadergroup, throughout the day, and he did not disappoint them. Haotong repeatedly made long-range putts from 15-20 feet in a round that featured seven birdies.

    When pointed out that he could be playing the final round in the company of Jordan Spieth or Dustin Johnson, Haotong burst out laughing: “That’s pretty cool. I am sure it will be fun. Hopefully, they are nice guys.”

    Tournament sponsors HSBC were obviously delighted with the prospect of one of their own students from the grassroots programme having a realistic chance of winning the tournament within nine years of starting the ambitious scheme.

    “If anyone wants to see just how far golf in China has come over the last decade, then look at the leaderboard,” said Giles Morgan, global head of sponsorship and events at HSBC.

    “It’s an incredible story. Haotong is one of our own. Our vision was to have a player from the program finish in the top 20 in the World Golf Championships within a decade. And there is every chance that will happen, or even better.”

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