- Li will become the first Chinese to play on the Presidents Cup International Team
- Chinese says he is looking forward to going up against Tiger Woods in Melbourne
International Team member Li Haotong said he is planning to showcase the growing strength of Chinese golf to the world by producing a winning display against a Tiger Woods-led United States Team in the Presidents Cup at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia next week.
The 24-year-old Li will become the first golfer from mainland China to feature in the biennial team competition from December 9-15, an accomplishment he hopes will add further spark for the game to reach greater heights in his home nation.
A two-time European Tour winner, Li qualified automatically as one of the top eight golfers for the Ernie Els' Internationals and he is determined to ensure a memorable debut by helping the team lift the Presidents Cup. Since 1994, the Internationals have won the Cup only once previously in 1998 when it was played at Royal Melbourne.
"Everyone in the team must play as best as we can. Then we may have a chance to win. It definitely means a lot to me to be on this team," Li said. "I was quite close to being in the team in the last edition. I feel I put a lot of effort to get into this team. I just want to go there and show my golf to the world."
After launching his career by winning the inaugural PGA Tour Series-China Order of Merit in 2014 following a three-win season, Li has blossomed into a leading international star. One of his triumphs on the European Tour came at the 2018 Omega Dubai Desert Classic where he defeated reigning FedEx Cup champion Rory McIlroy with a final-hole birdie after a head-to-head battle.
Earlier this year, the Chinese showed his match play prowess by progressing into the knockout phase at the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play after defeating Ryder Cup star Alex Noren and World No 1 Brooks Koepka in the group stage. When he represented Asia in the 2018 EurAsia Cup in Malaysia, he was unbeaten in three matches.
Hopefully I can get some points, especially against Tiger and the best golfers in the world. I'm very excited to get thereLi Haotong
He knows all eyes will be on him in Australia.
"As Chinese golfers, it is our responsibility and obligation to promote Chinese golf to the world and I'm proud to be one of them. I think we should try hard with better performances to show Chinese golf," he said.
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Li has forged a close friendship with South African legend Els, whom he played with during the final round at the 2017 British Open and shot a closing 63 to finish third for his best result in a major.
"Ernie is a very special person to me personally. He has a lot of experience and I can learn a lot of great things from him. It's my honour to be part of his team," Li said. "Hopefully I can get some points, especially against Tiger and the best golfers in the world. I'm very excited to get there. To be fair, our team is not as strong as the US team. So we just want to play our best and hopefully beat them."
With CT Pan of Taiwan also making his debut for the International team, there is every likelihood that Li and Pan will be paired by Els in either the four-ball or foursomes sessions at Royal Melbourne. Li is looking forward to returning to Melbourne where he received plenty of local support when China finished joint second in the ISPS Handa World Cup of Golf in 2016.
"I have talked a lot with CT during tournaments. It would be great (to play together)," he said. "I've been there to Melbourne a couple of times and I just want to be back again. It will be incredible for sure and the people will support us."
Li is looking forward to the day when China has the opportunity to host the Presidents Cup. Since the event's inauguration, South Korea remains the only Asian nation to have hosted the event back in 2015.
"I think such events will help promote Chinese golf a lot. I'm looking forward to having the Presidents Cup in China one day. Chinese golf should be impacted positively," he said.
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