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Haotong Li of China has hot first nine to get into Masters contention
TL;DR
Haotong Li from China has made a strong showing at the Masters Tournament, scoring 5-under 31 on the first nine holes and sitting three shots behind leader Rory McIlroy. He previously shot 71-69 in the first two rounds.
AUGUSTA, Ga. | One of the surprises of the Masters Tournament in the third round has been the play of Haotong Li of the People's Republic of China. He began the day 4-under and posted a first-nine score of 5-under 31, including an eagle at the par-5 eighth hole, and was three shots behind leader Rory McIlroy when he made the turn.
Li birdied No. 2 on a 10-foot putt, No. 3 on a 3-footer and No. 5 on an 11-footer, after hitting his second shot from the trees on the right.
He belted two long shots at No. 8 to set up a 3-foot eagle putt at No. 8.
Li shot 71-69 in his first two rounds.
Who is Haotong Li?
Li is 30 years old and a native of Hunan, China. He lives in Shanghai.
Li began his professional career on the OneAsia Tour and the PGA Tour of Australia in 2013.
2026 Masters: Live leaderboard updates, Round 3 tee times, TV coverage
He then won three times on the PGA Tour China circuit in 2014 and was the leading money winner, earning a Korn Ferry Tour card for 2015. Li finished 49th on the money list to retain his Korn Ferry status.
He later earned a DP World Tour card and has won four times (the Volvo China Open, the Dubai Desert Classic, the BMW International Open in Germany and the Qatar Masters.
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Haotong Li tees off on the first hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
How did Haotong Li qualify for the Masters?
He finished among the top four in the 2025 British Open.
How has Haotong Li played in major championships?
Li played in his first major at the 2017 U.S. Open, making the cut but finishing 68th. He also qualified for the British Open at Royal Birkdale and earned some international notice when he shot a final-round 63 to finish solo third, the best performance by any player from China in a major.
That got him into his first Masters in 2018. Li shot 69 in the first round, made the cut despite a second-round 76, and eventually tied for 32nd.
He tied for 43rd the next year but did not return to the Masters until this year.
Li held the 36-hole lead in the 2020 PGA at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco but shot 73-69 to drop into a tie for 17th. He played with Scottie Scheffler in the final twosome of the 2025 British Open at Royal Portrush, eventually tying for fourth.
Li has represented China in the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne in Australia and the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro.
Where is Haotong Li playing this year?
Li earned PGA Tour status by finishing among the top 10 on the DP World Tour last year. He is 85th on the FedEx Cup points list and has been in a slump, missing his previous four cuts entering the Masters.
His best finishes this season are a tie for eighth at The American Express and a tie for 11th at the Farmers Insurance Open.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Who is Haotong Li? Native of China has jumped into Masters contention
Q&A
What was Haotong Li's score on the first nine holes at the Masters Tournament?
Haotong Li scored 5-under 31 on the first nine holes.
How did Haotong Li perform in the first two rounds of the Masters Tournament?
He shot 71 in the first round and 69 in the second round.
Who is leading the Masters Tournament as Haotong Li competes?
Rory McIlroy is the leader, with Haotong Li three shots behind.
What notable play did Haotong Li make during the third round?
He made an eagle on the par-5 eighth hole.
