AUGUSTA, Ga. — It has been fairly per week for Haotong Li. The 30-year-old Chinese language professional from Shanghai was in a position to meet Kevin Hart throughout Wednesday’s par-3 contest, which he known as “the most effective day of my life to date.” However Thursday may need been the worst day.
The culprits, he stated, had been the lobster rolls and poke bowls he ate for lunch.
“I went to the lavatory a number of occasions final evening,” he stated Friday. “Once I bought to the golf course this morning, I nonetheless felt sick and felt like I used to be within the toilet.”
Lee stated he plans to play and withdraw if crucial. The outlook was bleak. “I’ve no power,” he stated. “I really feel so fuzzy, I wish to vomit.”
Michael Jordan had a “Flu Recreation” in 1997. Haotong Li competed within the second spherical of the 2026 Masters. He moved into the highest 10 after posting a 4-under 32 on the second ninth. Now, with one other 3-under 69 on Saturday, he isn’t out of the image. Lee entered Sunday in a tie for seventh place, 4 strokes behind the chief, and was paired with two-time champion Scottie Scheffler.
“I am nonetheless combating,” Lee stated Saturday. Not parts or programs. his abdomen.
With out the digestive sickness, Lee’s story of resilience would nonetheless be exceptional. He had a breakout efficiency on the 2017 British Open, hitting an unbelievable 63 out of nowhere on Sunday to complete third behind Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar. Nevertheless, it wasn’t all clean crusing from then on. Lee had not performed at Augusta Nationwide since 2019, when he performed the primary two rounds with Tiger Woods. And he wanted to complete within the prime 10 on final 12 months’s DP World Tour to earn his PGA Tour card. When he returned to Augusta, he did not have a lot momentum. He had missed the final 4 cuts coming into this week.
However Lee performed nicely on the massive stage, taking the lead after 36 holes on the 2020 PGA Championship. And his outsized character provides curiosity to one of many sport’s most intimate environments.
In February, Lee stated he realized English by watching Kevin Hart on “The Smiley Present.” He stated he had hoped to fulfill him sometime, however by no means imagined he would run into him at Wednesday’s par-3 contest. Naturally, Mr. Lee didn’t shrink back from the occasion.
“You might be my hero!” he shouted, then “Let’s go!” on reside tv. He took pictures and movies to assist his famously supportive mom. skilled tournaments,As soon as, when she hit a shot in a par-3 contest, he rolled up her pants and stepped into the pond to retrieve her putter, which she had angrily thrown into the water.
Lee could also be questionable about his native restaurant selections, however he is by no means lacked enthusiasm. Or frankness, apparently. This mix has made him one in all golf’s most quoted gamers and a favourite of different gamers on tour for leisure throughout rounds.
“He did not shut up for 18 holes,” Cameron Smith stated of the observe spherical the 2 shared on the 2019 Presidents Cup. “He was very spectacular. I’ve by no means heard so many phrases come out of 1 mouth in 4 hours.”
Lee’s pairing on Sunday will reunite him with Scheffler, his taking part in companion when Scheffler received and Lee completed fourth within the last spherical of the British Open Championship at Royal Portrush final July. Reporters observed Mr. Lee and Mr. Scheffler laughing through the spherical and requested Mr. Lee, “What the hell was that about?”
“I stated, ‘Do you have got time to observe with me once I go on the PGA Tour?’ and he stated sure,” Lee stated, in accordance with Golf.com. “However once I emailed you, I stated it is best to reply.”
Scheffler replied, “Who’s Haotong?” Lee stated with amusing that Scheffler was “only a good man to hang around with.”
Lee was on the verge of retiring from golf in 2021 after lacking 13 of 16 cuts on the DP World Tour. After defeating none aside from Masters co-leader Rory McIlroy on the 2018 event in Dubai, he went on to go and not using a win for greater than 4 years. In a single event in 2021, he shot an 84 in a spherical that included an eagle and 12.
“The advantage of him is that very Good and unhealthy about him very “It is unhealthy,” caddy Jaydee de Beer instructed Golf.com throughout final 12 months’s British Open. However at All England, and right here once more, excellent gamers appear to beat the whole lot else.
“Each time I play within the majors, I really feel very calm,” he stated Thursday.
Throughout Saturday’s spherical, a number of followers from China adopted his each transfer. Zheng Gangsheng from China’s Hainan province stated he had been to his house nation a number of occasions to see Mr. Li. He stated different Chinese language golfers additionally respect him and are pleased with Li’s reputation, saying he has served as an inspiration to enhance the standard of different Chinese language professionals.
“He is getting higher and higher,” Schenn stated. “It is a huge comeback. He is bought a extremely good character. The entire American golfers love him, identical to we do.”
Lee stated after Friday and Saturday’s rounds he was stunned at how nicely he performed. It seems to be like he managed to boost his degree on the Masters. He has performed in all 4 video games right here. In his last spherical right here in 2019, he shot a 68 and had a great efficiency with six birdies on the second and ninth holes.
He stated Friday that regardless of his sickness, Augusta appeared to be the treatment.
“Completely,” he stated. “Main feels good.”
Lee has made a star flip this week and can be close to the highest of the leaderboard in the beginning of Sunday’s last spherical of the Masters with an outdoor probability to tug off a shock victory. However on Saturday, he stated aggressive golf wasn’t the most effective a part of the week.
“I believe a very powerful factor is that I actually take pleasure in Wednesdays with my mother,” he stated. “Clearly, I met Kevin Hart in particular person. (Wednesday) was extra vital than the golf event.”
