The golfing world was captivated as Li Haotong, the 29-year-old from Hunan, China, stood on the cusp of making history. Ranked No. 111 in the world, Li entered the final round of The Open Championship in the final pairing with Scottie Scheffler, but failed to win as world No. 1 claimed yet another major title on Sunday.
A victory for Li would have marked the first time a Chinese man has ever claimed a major golf championship. However, he will now have to wait.
Li's journey to this monumental moment has been anything but ordinary, a testament to his unique personality and undeniable talent.
Who Is Li Haotong?
Born on August 3, 1995, Li Haotong's introduction to golf came through caddying for his father, who balanced his passion for the sport with owning a car dealership. This early exposure ignited a career that saw Li turn professional in 2011. His parents continue to be a constant presence, traveling the world with him as he divides his time between the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour.
Major Aspirations And Past Prowess
This Open Championship marked Li's 15th major appearance. His best previous performance came at the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, where he tied for third after a stunning final-round 63, finishing six strokes behind winner Jordan Spieth. In 2020, he made history by becoming the first Chinese player to hold a lead after any round in a Major, carding a bogey-free 65 in the second round of the PGA Championship before ultimately finishing 17th. His last Major outing was in 2022 at The Open Championship at St. Andrews, where he missed the cut.
A Decorated DP World Tour Career
Li boasts four victories on the DP World Tour. His most recent triumph was a dramatic one-shot victory at the Qatar Masters in February, where a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole led to an emotional embrace with his caddie. His first DP World Tour win dates back to the China Open in 2016, the year he joined the tour.
Beyond his golf prowess, Li is known for his memorable antics. Perhaps the most infamous was the "broken putter incident" at the 2017 French Open. After a frustrated club toss into the water, his mother heroically waded through the muddy pond to retrieve it, only to find it snapped and toss it back in! Undeterred, Li completed the final seven holes at level par using a sand wedge as his putter.
Adding to his quirky charm, Li once had the bold declaration "HAOTONG IS THE MOST HANDSOME MAN IN CHINA" emblazoned in red capital letters on his 60-degree wedge. He also, somewhat indirectly, follows the English soccer team Sunderland AFC, a loyalty inspired by a former caddie.
Paving the Way For Chinese Golf
While Haotong Li failed to be the first Chinese man to win a major, China has already celebrated major champions on the women's side. Shanshan Feng broke ground with her LPGA Championship victory in 2012, followed by Ruoning Yin's win at the Women’s PGA Championship in 2021.
