Haotong Li of China Sets Sights on PGA Tour Following Impressive Qatar Masters Victory

Doha, Feb 10 (NationPress) China’s Haotong Li has various motivational messages stitched onto his driver headcover, prominently featuring “Dream Big”.

The 29-year-old Li is reigniting his aspirations after securing his fourth DP World Tour title with an emotional victory at the Qatar Masters on Sunday, a win he believes will serve as a foundation for steering his career on a successful trajectory.

Li, the sole mainland Chinese golfer to participate in the Presidents Cup, secured his win by sinking a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole at Doha Golf Club, leading to a celebration with his caddie and tears of joy.

This victory marks the second consecutive triumph for an Asian golfer in Qatar, and Li now aims to follow in the footsteps of Rikuya Hoshino from Japan by obtaining a coveted PGA Tour card through the DP World Tour Top-10 standings. Hoshino was among ten players from the DP World Tour to achieve PGA Tour eligibility at the end of the previous season.

“This time, I will remain dedicated and maintain my momentum for the rest of the season. My aspiration is always to reclaim my PGA TOUR card, and I believe I’m in a strong position right now. I hope to continue playing quality golf, remain consistent, and head to America,” expressed a thrilled Li, who has climbed to seventh place in the Race to Dubai rankings.

Li's remarkable win allowed him to equal Ashun Wu’s record of four DP World Tour victories, the highest for a mainland Chinese golfer, and expectations have always been high for the talented Li, particularly after he faced the brink of quitting the sport post-COVID.

Having once reached 32nd place in the official World Golf Ranking in 2018, Li has demonstrated his ability to compete with the best. He finished third at The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in 2017, shooting a closing 63 while playing alongside South African legend Ernie Els on the final day.

“You could see he wasn't backing off. Some players might get a bit anxious, but he kept pushing forward. It was truly special to witness,” remarked Els, who played 11 shots worse than Li that day and served as Li’s captain at the Presidents Cup.

At the 2018 Dubai Desert Classic, the Chinese star matched wits with Rory McIlroy and triumphed after coming from two shots down with eight holes to go, clinching victory with a birdie on the final hole.

However, Li's Presidents Cup debut was less than stellar as he went 0-2-0 while the International Team narrowly lost 16-14 to a U.S. Team led by Tiger Woods. Following the pandemic, his performance fluctuated significantly, missing 14 cuts in 18 starts in 2021 and 18 cuts in 22 starts in 2023, interrupted only by a surprising victory at the International Open, where he dramatically holed a 50-foot birdie in a playoff.

“I feel fantastic. It’s quite emotional,” expressed Li after his Doha victory. “I’ve been playing exceptionally well. I managed my emotions effectively, especially on the back nine. I kept reassuring myself that I was still in contention and focused on hitting my shots. If it was meant to be my day, it would happen; if not, there would be other opportunities.”

“On the 18th, I asked the cameraman about the situation, and he informed me that we were tied, so I needed a birdie to seal the deal. I executed a perfect drive, though slightly off, which is normal, then mishit my bunker shot. Somehow, when I stood over that putt, I felt it might go in, but halfway through, I lost control. I’m incredibly proud and didn’t expect my fourth win to arrive so quickly. I’ve finally overcome the yips from two years ago.”

Li aims to embody the principles inscribed on his driver cover, which includes No Days Off, Work Hard, Trust the Process, Play like a Champion, Take the Leap, Be your own GOAT, Trust Your Gut, and of course, Dream Big. These attributes could very well pave his way to the PGA Tour by year-end.