![\"LI](\"images\/golf\/LI-HAO-TONG.jpg\")
Southport, England: China\u2019s Li Hao-tong equalled the lowest final round in Major history and earned a spot at The Masters next year after finishing third at The Open on Sunday. <\/p>\nSouthport, England: China\u2019s Li Hao-tong equalled the lowest final round in Major history and earned a spot at The Masters next year after finishing third at The Open on Sunday. <\/p>\n
The Open debutant fired a brilliant seven-under-par 63 thanks to a flawless card highlighted by four closing birdies. He totalled six-under-par 274 to finish six shots behind eventual winner Jordan Spieth of the United States at Royal Birkdale. Li\u2019s effort matched only three other players\u2019 final round score – Jodie Mudd (1991), Payne Stewart (1993) and Henrik Stenson (2016).<\/p>\n
\u201cNot really, actually,\u201d Li replied when asked if he expected to shoot a 63. \u201cFor some reason after hole No. 8, I just started holing everything. Now I\u2019m feeling awesome, it is unbelievable actually. It means a lot to me.\u201d \u201cIt’s kind of a dream come true, you know. I definitely got a lot support from China, from my friends, from fans, you know, just keep behaving myself and play some decent golf. I think it was just more a mental thing. When I had bad shot, I just always tell myself, hang on in there and try to hole the putt. Glad to see I holed everything,\u201d he smiled. <\/p>\n
This is the best ever finish by a golfer from China in a Major tournament. Liang Wen-chong previously finished tied eighth at the 2010 US PGA Championship. However, Lu Liang-huan of Chinese Taipei or better known as Mr. Lu remains as the best Asian finisher at The Open with his runner-up result also at Royal Birkdale in 1971. <\/p>\n
Li\u2019s playing partner, Ernie Els of South Africa, who is a multiple Major champion, praised the young Chinese for his fearless approach. \u201cThat\u2019s not the same number as (Brendan) Grace, but that\u2019s as good a round,\u201d Els said. \u201cHe had a nice attitude. You could see he was not backing off. The wind was picking up too. He didn\u2019t miss a putt. He did everything he could.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Southport, England: China\u2019s Li Hao-tong equalled the lowest final round in Major history and earned a spot at The Masters next year after finishing third at The Open on Sunday. <\/p>\n
The Open debutant fired a brilliant seven-under-par 63 thanks to a flawless card highlighted by four closing birdies. He totalled six-under-par 274 to finish six shots behind eventual winner Jordan Spieth of the United States at Royal Birkdale. Li\u2019s effort matched only three other players\u2019 final round score – Jodie Mudd (1991), Payne Stewart (1993) and Henrik Stenson (2016).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[10690,6480,466,12187,17718,22487,22505,11578],"class_list":["post-35248","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-world-golf-news","tag-golf","tag-indian-sports","tag-indian-sports-news","tag-jordan-spieth","tag-li-hao-tong","tag-royal-birkdale","tag-the-masters","tag-the-open"],"yoast_head":"\n