History as Li cracks men’s top 50
Print Edition
Emerging star Li Haotong wrote his name in the history books and underlined his prodigious talent as he became the first Chinese men’s golfer to claim a spot in the world top 50.
Li surged from 60th to 32nd in the rankings thanks to a thrilling victory at the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday and highlights China’s growing prowess in a sport once banned in the country.
The European Tour said Li was the youngest player inside the top 50 and the 22-year-old now has his sights set on April’s Masters after qualifying with his impressive third-place finish at last year’s British Open.
Li upstaged four-time major winner Rory McIlroy in Dubai for his second European Tour title — his maiden win was on home soil at the 2016 China Open.
Speaking after his latest and biggest win to date, Li said that he expected the reaction in China “to be big”.
His ascension to the higher echelons of the world rankings did not go unnoticed among the golfing fraternity.
Veteran Englishman Ian Poulter, writing on Twitter, hailed Li’s “incredible scoring and performance” in trumping McIlroy in Dubai.
“Moving inside the Top 50 is a big deal and first (Chinese) player to do so. Well done,” he tweeted.
And Justin Rose, the Rio Olympic gold medalist, also recognized the wider significance of Li’s breakthrough, congratulating “my mate” and using the hashtag BrilliantForTheGame.
But Li still has some way to go to match compatriot Feng Shanshan, a major winner and the world’s top-ranked women’s golfer since November.
In San Diego, California, Australian Jason Day won for the first time in 20 months when he beat Alex Noren in eerie silence in a playoff at the Farmers Insurance Open on Monday.
With the course closed to the public for logistical reasons, Day sealed victory with a birdie at the sixth extra hole after Swede Noren found a water hazard with his second shot at the par-5 18th at Torrey Pines.
It was the 11th PGA Tour triumph for Day, which lifted him from 14th in the world rankings to 10th. The 30-year-old had not won since the 2016 Players Championship when he was No. 1.
“It’s been a long time (without winning) so happy to start off the year great,” said Day, who also triumphed here three years ago. “I was close at the Australian Open last year and didn’t quite get over the finish line, but it’s really nice to get over the finish line here.”
Day and Noren could not be separated in five extra holes on Sunday before the playoff was suspended due to darkness. The Swede was seeking his maiden PGA Tour victory. He has won nine times on the European Tour.
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