Haotong Li makes Chinese golf history at 2020 PGA Championship

Haotong Li of Hunan, China made Chinese golf history on Friday by becoming the first Chinese player ever to lead at one of the men’s golf’s four majors. Li had a second-round score of -5 and now finds himself at -8 at the midway point of the 102nd PGA Championship from Harding Park in San Francisco, California.

Li’s round of 65 was the third-best score on Friday. The only golfers who posted a better score were Tommy Fleetwood of Southport, England, and Cameron Champ of Sacramento, California. Both Fleetwood and Champ shot rounds of six-under-par. Fleetwood is six-under-par and tied for second, while Champ is at five-under-par and tied for eighth. Champ tested positive for coronavirus on June 23 and missed the Travelers’ Championship in Hartford as a result.

In order for Li to join Shanshan Feng of Guangzhou, China (2012 LPGA Championship winner) as the only major champions in the history of Chinese golf, he will need to fend off a group of exceptionally talented golfers. They include major champion winners Jason Day of Beaudesert, Australia (-6), Brooks Koepka of West Palm Beach, Florida (-6), and Justin Rose of Hook, England (-6).

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There are four more golfers in contention at this time and are within three strokes of the lead. Daniel Berger of Plantation, Florida, and Mike Lorenzo-Vera of Bayonne, France are each two strokes off the lead at -6. Meanwhile, Paul Casey of Cheltenham, England, and Brendon Todd of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, are each at -5.

Only once before has Li finished in the top 15 at a major. That was the 2017 British Open at Royal Birkdale, where Li finished in third place behind Americans Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar.

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