This young Chinese star thought about quitting golf, but battled nerves to win first DP World Tour title in three years

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[PHOTO: Karim Jaafar]

Haotong Li is still only 29. The man from China turned professional in 2011 and has had many ups and downs during the past 13 years.

Li won his first professional event in China in 2014, then his first on the European Tour in 2016, the Volvo China Open. He was on top of the world and had heavy expectations. He won again in 2018 in Dubai and even qualified for the International Presidents Cup team in 2019 to play at Royal Melbourne.

But he wasn’t in good form that week, according to his captain Ernie Els, and he played in only two matches, losing both handily. Over the next couple years he struggled mightily and thought about quitting golf, but never did. Another breakthrough came in 2022 when he topped Thomas Pieters in a playoff to win the BMW International Open for his third title on what from that year became known as the DP World Tour.

https://twitter.com/DPWorldTour/status/1888584487199494210

Li was back again this week at the Qatar Masters, holding a two-shot lead heading into the final round at Doha Golf Club. He even held a four-shot lead early. But it dwindled as nerves started to kick in and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen started to mount a charge.

However, after a bogey on the 15th hole, Li birdied two of the last three holes to shoot 69 and top Neergaard-Petersen (65) by a shot. Li drained a 15-footer for birdie on the 72nd hole to win and celebrated accordingly. He ended the week at 16-under-par.

“It means a lot,” an emotional Li said. “I never thought I could come back in this position.

“I’m just so pleased I made that putt on the last. I’m just very glad I closed out nicely.”

Li has always been extremely personable, wears his heart on his sleeves and is open and honest. This video before his approach shot on the par-3 17th hole on Sunday shows a fun interaction between him and his caddie.

“I’m quite nervous too,” Li said.

This is Li’s eighth victory as a professional and fourth on the DP World Tour.