Dubai Desert Classic: Haotong Li hints at revival after leading the way in opening round

Former champion cards 5-under-par 67 fuelled by memories of 2018 duel with Rory McIlroy at Emirates Golf Club

Haotong Li of China tees-off during the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday, January 18, 2024. EPA

A familiar name reemerged on the top of the leaderboard after the first session at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, and hinted at a career revival in the process.

There must have been times in the recent past when Haotong Li feared he could be about to vanish from golf’s reckoning for good.

The Chinese player became the first Asian winner of the Classic when he beat Rory McIlroy down the stretch back in 2018.

The points he accrued in claiming the Dallah Trophy back then vaulted Li to a career best placing of 32 in the world rankings. He was 22 at the time, and appeared on the brink of joining the game’s elite.

Since that high watermark, though, came the decline. In 22 starts last season, Li missed the cut 18 times, and registered zero top 10 finishes.

He is way out at 476th in the standings now, but Dubai appears to be working a charm for him all over again. Li finished tied 14th in the 60-player field at the Dubai Invitational last week.

Buoyed by that promising start to the new campaign, he re-announced himself as a contender for titles with a 5-under-par 67 on the opening morning at the Majlis.

That gave him a one-stroke lead among the early finishers. By the end of the day, he was joined at the top of the leaderboard by Andy Sullivan, Rasmus Hojgaard and Cameron Young at 5-under par.

It might have been slightly better still for the former champion. Li’s card was blemish-free until the 15th. He then carded two bogeys in the space of three holes, but that was either side of a birdie, and he birdied the last, too.

Li said his slump last season was down to failings off the tee. He acknowledges it is early days, but he hopes his start to the season in the UAE is a sign that his work to rectify the issue is paying off.

“It happens,” Li said. “It’s just golf. Hopefully it doesn’t happen again, and I will definitely more [be more consistent].

“I saw that stroke last week finally become ingrained now. I’m finally happy to see that and hopefully I can maintain that and improve that.

“I think I played just solid as last week. I've been working on a lot of stuff during the winter time and to see some result like this, it is like slowly pay back now.”

Li said he had recalled moments from his title win on his latest trip round the Majlis – but that he cannot believe it was so long ago.

“I can’t believe it’s six years ago now,” said Li, who is now 28. “I had a lot of great memories and hopefully I can continue to do some magic here.”

McIlroy himself threatened to race straight back to the summit of the leaderboard. The defending champion was 4-under at the turn, after starting at the 10th.

He appeared to be flying at that point, but he went backwards on the way back in. Despite a perfect tee-shot at the first – his 10th – the Northern Irishman made bogey.

He made three more in a row from the sixth to the eighth, and left the course in dejected mood.

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  Haotong Li tees off on the fourth hole during round one of the Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on Thursday, January 18, 2024. Getty Images

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  Haotong Li took early lead at the Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday. AP

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  Rory McIlroy tees off on the eighth hole at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai. Getty Images

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  Rory McIlroy plays his second shot on the ninth hole during round one of the Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club. Getty Images

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  Cameron Young of the US tees off on the 17th hole at Emirates Golf Club. Getty Images

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  Tommy Fleetwood tees off on the 17th hole at the Emirates Golf Club. Getty Images

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  Tommy Fleetwood follows his ball on 16th hole on Thursday. AP

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  Tyrrell Hatton on the 18th green on Thursday. Getty Images