Who Is The 'most Handsome Man In China' Looking To Stop Scheffler?

The leaderboard astatine nan apical of nan 153rd Open Championship is stacked pinch acquainted names specified arsenic awesome winners Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Matthew Fitzpatrick.

But Li Haotong from China, who past made nan trim astatine nan Open successful 2018, is nan nearest challenger to Scheffler heading into nan last day.

It's an improbable communicative arsenic he looks to go nan first subordinate from China to triumph a men's awesome - and only nan 3rd from Asia aft Hideki Matsuyama and nan Yong-eun.

It would beryllium a singular move of events if Li could pursuit down nan world number one, who holds a four-stroke advantage heading into nan last round, and nan 29-year-old has had a rollercoaster profession to date.

He has moreover been dubbed nan "most handsome man successful China".

In a region of 1.4 cardinal people, that is rather nan claim. Although according to Li, he was not nan 1 who started it.

It appears his nine shaper randomly stamped it connected 1 of his wedges arsenic a joke and now it's stuck.

He moreover revealed connected Friday that he matter a image of his wedge to Phil Mickelson, who replied that it was a "shame" for China.

"It was fun", said Li.

Li came an awesome 3rd connected his Open debut successful 2017 but things had not gone to scheme since.

He was tied for 39th nan pursuing twelvemonth but had grounded to moreover make nan trim astatine nan title since.

However, that changed this week erstwhile he vaulted up nan leaderboard pinch a beardown opening information of 67, replicated that people successful his 2nd outing, past produced different coagulated 3rd information of 69 connected Saturday to time off him successful 2nd spot pinch 18 holes to play.

It's clear that Li prefers to do his talking connected nan course. And nan truth he is successful this position says a batch astir his resilience.

He almost walked distant from nan athletics successful 2021 aft a nonaccomplishment of shape and injury, but bounced backmost to triumph nan BMW Invitational Open nan pursuing June.

His shape astatine Royal Portrush hasn't travel arsenic a full astonishment arsenic he worked his measurement backmost up nan rankings to 111 successful nan world and ended a adjacent three-year hold for a title erstwhile he won nan Qatar International successful February.

After his 3rd round, Li said he was struggling pinch his plaything and nan "yips" complete nan past 2 years.

He said he did not cognize really he had bounced backmost but said it was a "miracle".

To make his Open capacity moreover much remarkable, Li said he restricted a batch of his believe to nan scope owed to nan size of nan crowds successful Portrush.

"I'll show you what, nan past mates weeks, I felt really, really bad to beryllium honest," Li admitted.

"This week I hardly sewage connected nan people to play because I felt for illustration location were truthful galore people, pinch people being truthful packed.

"I conscionable benignant of deed a fewer balls connected nan scope and wasn't comfortable. Even connected our Thursday and Friday greeting sessions, I wasn't.

"But until today, it was really rather nice."

It's a emotion he will person to get utilized to. Unlike astatine nan 2020 PGA Championship, erstwhile he led aft 36 holes but fell away, he has stayed successful touch successful Northern Ireland.

And now, for nan first clip successful his profession he will caput retired connected nan closing time of a awesome successful nan last pairing.

All eyes will beryllium connected him, but it's a situation he plans to clasp arsenic he looks to daze Scheffler.

"I'm really rather looking guardant to it," he said.

"I'll conscionable effort to play my champion retired location and hopefully make thing happen.

"It's going to beryllium exciting."

As nan underdog against nan sport's dense hitters, Li admits he has thing to lose.

But arsenic he said connected Friday: "I deliberation if I play my best, I tin compete pinch anyone."