Being paired with a genuine superstar can have an adverse effect on a golfer’s psyche, especially one so young, but if Li Hao-tong was in awe of playing alongside of Bubba Watson in the first two rounds of the Shenzhen International, he disguised it very well.
Aged just 19 and with only a handful of European Tour appearances behind him, Li would have been forgiven for feeling out of place in a marquee group which also includes two-time European Tour champion Alex Levy; but if his press conference on Wednesday morning was anything to go by, the experience should only serve to embolden, rather than inhibit him.
He said: “I’m very lucky to be assigned in the same group as Bubba for the same two days. I’ve seen him on TV winning the Masters and other tournaments, but I’ve never met him before so I’m looking forward to speaking with him and seeing how my game compares. Further down the line, hopefully I will have many more opportunities to play with him and other big players in the same group.”
Li has already achieved reasonable success in his rookie season on the developmental Web.com Tour in America, with two tied 11th place finishes in six outings hinting at his pedigree.
Indeed, he had looked on course to enter the record books on his debut in Panama after grabbing the 54-hole lead on nine under par, courtesy of a round of 65. Victory would have seen him surpass Jason Day as the youngest winner in the history of the Web.com Tour, but he closed with a round of 76 to fall outside the top ten.
Li, however, clearly subscribes to the theory that ‘what doesn’t break you makes you stronger’, and judging by his jovial nature and genial demeanour the chastening experience left little, if indeed any, scar tissue.
He said: “I’ve definitely improved this year, from my long game to my clutch putts, but there have also been some mistakes along the way. It’s a learning process though and I’m still young, so as long as I can keep improving and growing my skills then there’s no reason why I can’t get to the same level as guys like Bubba Watson one day. That is the goal, and whilst it is obviously a long way off, tournaments like the one this week can only help me on my journey.”
