China's Champion

With his win at last month's Volvo China Open in Beijing, 20-year-old Li Haotong earned his European Tour card, became his country's highest-ranked player and all but sealed his berth at the Rio Olympics

How do you think your China Open victory will help golf in China, especially as you’re still only 20?

Golf in China is getting very popular now and a lot of Chinese can win international tournaments. I believe my victory in the Volvo China Open will inspire a lot more juniors in China to want to play golf.

Can you tell us more about your new role as the face of the Mercedes-Benz junior golf programme in China?

I’m excited to work with Mercedes-Benz to grow the game in China, especially with young players. I know Mercedes is a global brand and very famous in China. I started working with them recently, so I’m finding out more and more about their junior programme across China. I also know they work with three of the four Majors, so it’s a good brand to work with.

Are you now more confident you will qualify for the Olympics and how much would competing in Rio mean to you?

It’s very important for me because I’m Chinese. The Olympic Games is the dream of every Chinese. I’d love to go.

Now you have a European Tour card through 2018, how does that affect your schedule? Have your goals changed?

I’m going to play some European Tour events and keep playing on the Web.com Tour. My ultimate goal is still the PGA Tour.

How important would it be for you to become the first Chinese member of the PGA Tour?

Oh, yeah! If I can get my PGA Tour card, that would be fantastic. I think it would be really important because no Chinese has played on the PGA Tour before. I think if I can be there, I will be a national hero, especially in golf!

You moved to Florida in February 2015. How do you enjoy living at Bishops Gate Golf Academy?

Since I qualified for the Web.com Tour, I needed a base in the USA and it has been great at BGGA. I have a nice house on the course, so it’s easy to play when I’m there. They have really good practice facilities and I sometimes meet the young students based there, which is nice. The weather’s always nice in Florida, so I can play and train any time of year. That’s important.

Which other young Chinese players should people look out for?

I still think Guan Tianlang will play well. He works really hard and he has a really good short game, so I still believe he will become a good player.

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Written by Alex Jenkins

Photography by AFP

Click here to see the published article.

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