Chinese Delight For Haitong Li Teeing-Up In DP World Tour Final

3 years ago by Comments Off on Chinese Delight For Haitong Li Teeing-Up In DP World Tour Final

.… Jumeriah Estates, Dubai

China’s Haitong Li is no stranger to Dubai and, in fact, just shy of five years ago he stunned the golf world by keeping Rory McIlroy at arms reach to capture the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Li, 27, has returned to Dubai but under different circumstances having only learnt over the weekend at the Nedbank Challenge he could be teeing-up in this week’s season-ending DP Tour Championship.

The top Chinese golfer, and with seven pro victories to his credit including three on the DP World Tour, was desperate to contest this week’s US$10m event and what would be for a fifth time in career, having contested the Race to Dubai finale from 2016 to 2019.

However last week did not go well for Li posting four rounds in the 70s, including a horror last day 77, to finish at nine-over and in a distant share of 61st place.

He went to Sun City lying 44th on the money list but at tournament end he was ranked 53rd but there was hope for the affable Li as he was advised by Tour official’s he was into this week’s event on the Earth course at the Jumeirah Estates.

Indeed, the 2022 money list went down to 53rd and with Le being the last man in.

“I am a very lucky golfer to be the last in,” he said smiling.

“I played poorly last week and with my hopes of playing in Dubai slipping with each round, and then to finish the way I did was very disappointing,” Li said as he practiced on the Jumeirah range.

“I wasn’t really thinking about Dubai, and was thinking this was the of my season but then someone from the Tour got me organised and Sunday night’s Emirates flight here to Dubai.

“So, it’s good to be back here as it’s been some time.  I can now only try and make the best of the chance I have been given”.

Three players inside the top-50 on the rankings have seen this year’s eligibility drop to 53rd on the money list.

And three who can’t make it have pretty decent reasons for not being here in Dubai.

American Will Zalatoris, at No. 6 on the Race to Dubai, is injured and with the No. 7 ranked Thomas Pieters of Belgium has just become a father while double major-winning Collin Morikawa is getting married.



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