In a remarkable twist of fate, it is DP World Tour star Haotong Li who will go head to head with Scottie Scheffler in the final round of The Open for a place in history.
Li, who got his first win on the DP World Tour in three years by winning the Qatar Masters, is the closest player to Scheffler on 10-under par, four back of the world number one.
The popular Chinese star is very much writing his own fairy tale story around Royal Portrush and while he’ll need a magic performance and Scheffler to be off form to win, it’s still been a superb week for Li.
Playing against the best player in the world is going to be a test Li hasn’t come up against before.
However, as with any player in the professional game, these are the sorts of experience Li and others practice every day to get to.
Haotong Li addresses playing with Scottie Scheffler in the final round of The Open
With a star-studded field behind him, Li knows he’ll need to play well even to keep up with Scheffler and fend off the big names.
However, for Li, it’s all about the excitement and challenge of playing with the world’s best.
“I’m actually quite looking forward to it. Four shots behind, kind of like play for second, especially play with world No. 1. I just try to play my best out there and hopefully make something happen. Yeah, it’s going to be exciting. Looking forward to it,” Li said in response to how he feels about lining up alongside Scheffler.
On potentially becoming the first Chinese player to win The Open, Li admitted it would be a proud moment for him.
“I don’t see it as an opportunity because you are against world number one Scottie Scheffler, that guy is like a machine. But I am just so pleased to have the opportunity to experience the vibes for tomorrow and the environment. I just want to try my best to perform the best I have ever performed,” Li admitted.
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Haotong Li winning The Open would be one of golf’s great stories
There’s been some fine moments in 2025, like Rory McIlroy winning The Masters and Scottie Scheffler dominating the field at the Byron Nelson and the PGA.
However, if Haotong Li was to somehow land The Open from the position he’s in, it would be up there with one of the greatest tales this great game has had.
Li’s rise from being a DP World Tour nearly man to winner and now major contender is simply superb for the game.
If he was to win, it will inspire people in China and around the world for decades to come.
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