Haotong Li fires 61 at Biltmore Championship, improves probabilities of holding PGA Tour card

By Syedali Mallikar

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Haotong Li fires 61 at Biltmore Championship, improves chances of keeping PGA Tour card


Haotong Li has picked up momentum in every spherical of the Biltmore Championship Asheville. He vaulted into the highest 10 on the leaderboard by capturing 10-under 61 within the third spherical on Saturday, the bottom rating of the event up to now and a career-low spherical for Li on the PGA Tour.

Li, who’s from Hunan, China, is battling to maintain his PGA Tour card. After struggling by way of PGA Tour occasions through the again finish of this summer season, he was relieved to show in a sterling scorecard.

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“I simply attempt to survive. That is my first 12 months in (FedEx Cup Fall) … and I simply attempt to hold my card and do a strong end,” the 31-year-old Li mentioned. “And hopefully I can play extra golf in America.”

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2026 Biltmore Championship: See the perfect photographs from PGA Tour occasion in Asheville

Nick Hardy of the US hits an method shot on the primary gap through the first spherical of the Biltmore Championship Asheville 2026 at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove on September 17, 2026 in Arden, North Carolina.

(David Jensen, Getty Pictures)

Li hadn’t made the reduce at a PGA Tour occasion for the reason that 3M Open in July. On the Biltmore Championship Asheville, performed on the Cliffs at Walnut Cove, he did greater than make the reduce.

He’s tied for seventh at 15 below heading into the ultimate spherical. He shot 1 below within the first spherical, 4 below within the second and broke by way of within the third due to an improved quick recreation and a few better-fitting tools.

“Not too long ago I have been switching so many putters,” Li mentioned. “I change putters most likely each week as a result of (I used to be) combating the placing, with the tempo. (I additionally modified) the way in which I align the ball as nicely. … Now I simply purely with putter. It has been good up to now, and hopefully proceed doing one thing good.”

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Li is an completed worldwide golfer, with 5 wins across the globe, however he is struggled on American soil and continues to be looking for his first profession win on the PGA Tour.

His 2026 season began with 4 made cuts in 5 straight occasions and two top-15 finishes at The American Categorical and the Farmers Insurance coverage Open. However the ensuing 17 PGA Tour occasions Li has performed have led to 13 missed cuts and no finishes higher than a tie for thirty fifth.

Getting into this week, Li ranked 133rd within the FedEx Cup standings. The highest 125 gamers earn conditional PGA Tour standing. He’s 22 factors behind the present No. 125, Jesper Svensson, however could make up numerous the bottom by defending his present place on the Biltmore Championship Asheville.

His odds of catching the leaders Neal Shipley (21 below), Ben Kohles (19 below), Eric Cole and Ricky Castillo (17 below) within the ultimate spherical Sunday will take some work. However at 15 below, Li is however in place to enhance standing within the race for a PGA Tour card.

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Even with all that was at stake, Li performed within the early hours of Saturday with out displaying any indicators of stress. Li was relaxed and performed prefer it within the third spherical. He is a great distance from successful the inaugural Biltmore Championship Asheville, however feels safer within the high quality of golf he performed and the probabilities of retaining his PGA Tour card.

“I felt like my recreation (was) put collectively right now, and particularly the previous couple of weeks,” Li mentioned. “Went to Europe, gained a little bit little bit of confidence. And placing, (I used to be) simply actually sizzling right now, so I am very happy with this rating.”

Stephen Thompson covers Tennessee Volunteers males’s basketball. E-mail him at stephen.thompson@knoxnews.com and observe him on X @stephenethom.

This text initially appeared on Asheville Citizen Instances: Haotong Li fires 61 at Biltmore Championship, improves probabilities of holding PGA Tour card



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