Li leads charge of Chinese golfers
Print Edition
TWO years ago, 14-year-old Guan Tianlang made history by becoming the youngest golfer ever to make the cut at the Masters. Yesterday, Guan completed his second round at the Volvo China Open at 3 over overall and will miss the weekend. “My results are not great in these couple of years, they could be better,” he said. “But I feel like I’m more confident and my game is a lot better now.”
It may be years before Guan gets another crack at the Masters, but there are plenty of other young Chinese who are seeking their breakout moments. They are being groomed as future major and Olympic champions, the result of a serious investment of money and resources into developing the game at the junior level. Li Haotong is one of the most exciting prospects to emerge in recent months.
Just 19, the lanky golfer from Hunan Province ran off three victories on the PGA Tour of China last autumn to qualify for the US-based Web.com Tour, then nearly became the youngest winner in that tour’s history, taking a one-stroke lead into the final round at his debut tournament in Panama before faltering.
“When I play in China, if I shoot 3 or 4 under, I feel kind of OK, but on the Web.com Tour, I have to try on every shot,” Li said yesterday in Shanghai, where he was tied for fourth at 5 under after two rounds. “Even if I’m 3 or 4 under, I still have to play every hole like it’s the last hole. That’s the big difference.”
Last week, Li came up short of winning his first European Tour title, losing to Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat in a playoff at the Shenzhen International. The runner-up finish took him to No. 125 in the world rankings, just 19 spots below Tiger Woods.
Li’s goal at the beginning of the year was keeping his Web.com card, but now he believes he has a shot of earning a US PGA Tour card, too. His success has been an inspiration for his peers. Cao Yi is chasing a Web.com card, and spending time training in Florida with his South African coach Andrew Park. He’ll be at Nanshan this summer, too. Cao shot 72 yesterday, and missed the cut at 5 over.
“Haotong, he’s the role model now. Everyone’s trying to chase him, especially me and the other young players because we used to practice together and play together,” said the 24-year-old Cao.
Zhang Jin, 19, turned pro six months ago. He missed the cut in Shenzhen at 10 over, but he’s performed well in Shanghai, sitting in a tie for 15th at 2 under heading into the weekend. “Right now, a lot of Chinese people are thinking about the mechanics. They’re not thinking about how to play golf.”
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