Li locked and loaded for TPC
China’s Li Haotong saved his best for last, shooting a final round of 4-under 67 to tie for 19th at the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship on Sunday.
The 23-year-old, ranked No 35 in the world, carded six birdies and two bogeys over his last 18 holes at Club de Golf Chapultepec for a fourday total of 5-under 279.
Li ended the week 16 shots back of winner Dustin Johnson, who pushed China’s top-ranked player to second place at the Saudi International last month.
“It’s better than I expected after the third round,” said Li, who struggled to cope with the tricky greens at Chapultepec but managed to drain birdie putts on holes 2, 4, 6, 9, 15 and 16. His longest was a 26-footer.
“My game was better than my score, even though I didn’t hole many putts in the tournament. A lot of three-putts this week because of the tricky greens. But my game is in good shape,” said Li, who will compete in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill this week, followed by a second appearance in The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass — the flagship tournament of the PGA Tour.
With an 11th-place tie at the WGCHSBC Champions in Shanghai counting as well, Li hopes to maximize his opportunities to earn full tour membership through the non-member category, where he currently tops the list with 116 FedExCup points.
If he can reach 266 points, which was the points attained by the 150th-ranked golfer from last season’s standings, Li can attain special temporary membership and be eligible for unlimited sponsor exemptions for the remainder of the current PGA Tour season.
“I don’t want to waste any chance, any opportunity to get my PGA Tour status. I just want to play solid and prepare for the next stage,” said Li.
He is determined to make full use of his next two starts, especially at The Players, where he missed the cut in his debut last year.
“Last time I played there, I was uncomfortable ... like how I was over here (in Mexico),” he said.
“But this year I was more used to it and hopefully it will be the same when I go to TPC Sawgrass,” added Li, who is also chasing a spot in the International Team for the Presidents Cup later this year.