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Tribune News Service

Li Haotong spent Thursday night in the restroom. If all goes well, he might spend Sunday night inside Butler Cabin.
Yes, in one of the more bizarre interviews given at Augusta National this week, after he fired a five-under 67 on Friday, Li admitted he was, well, kept up the night before.
“Went to the toilet last night a lot of times,” Li said on Friday afternoon. “And this morning when I got to the golf course, [I was] still feeling really bad and kind of, like, [living on] the toilet.”
Li was on the verge of throwing up on the practice range on Friday, thinking that if he still felt sick after a few holes, he would just bow out of the tournament. Then he started walking the most gorgeous golf course in America, feeling the Georgia air and climbing the hills of Augusta National.
You want to know what cures queasiness more than medicine? Birdies at Augusta National.

“Somehow I felt quite nice,” he said on Friday. “So glad I survived today.”
After shooting one-under on Thursday, his marvellous second round pushed him into the Top 10. On Friday night, he seemed like a nice story.
He proved on Saturday, though, that he might be a real contender, shooting a three-under round of 69 to head into Sunday tied for fifth, just four shots behind tournament leaders Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young, both of whom are at 11-under.
All that despite still dealing with stomach sickness.
“Still battling,” Li said. “Didn’t expect actually got such a great result today.”
At one point late on Saturday, Li was nine-under and on the verge of being in one of the final two pairings Sunday. After a tap-in eagle on the eighth hole, he was alone in second place. Then came a sour finish. Bogeys on holes 15 and 18 shot him down the leaderboard and put a dampener on his hopes for a major championship.
Not much was expected of Li at this Masters. He qualified for the tournament only after an unexpected T-4 finish in the 2025 Open Championship – his first major appearance since 2022. Even more damning: Li had missed the cut in the four PGA Tour events before getting to Augusta National.
So, in short, he was playing terrible golf heading into the Masters, picked up some sort of stomach bug during the tournament and is now somehow within four shots of slipping on the green jacket. It does not seem real … or possible.

But perhaps an unknown is due at Augusta National. As the club celebrates the 10th anniversary of Danny Willett becoming arguably the most surprising Masters champion of all time, Li is a reminder that another shock will eventually come, whether in 2026 or beyond.
This tournament will not indefinitely crown champions such as McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, Li’s playing partner on Sunday.
Does Li have a shot at putting on the green jacket on Sunday? It seems unlikely, especially given the names in front of him including McIlroy, Young, Justin Shane Lowry and Justin Rose.
But as we saw a decade ago, crazy things can happen on Sundays in Augusta.


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The Masters

Li Haotong was thinking of pulling out on the second day after throwing up at the practice range, but started playing better after walking on the course. Photo: Xinhua

World No 1 Scottie Scheffler has been paired with Li Haotong for the final day. Photo: EPA

England’s Danny Willett was the surprise winner at Augusta 10 years ago. Photo: AFP

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Rory McIlroy walks off the 17th green during the first round of the Masters.Photo: Getty Images

Jon Rahm was among those who had a bad day at Augusta National. Photo: EPA

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Cleo Washington (left) is at the forefront of trying to improve gymnastics in Singapore after being recruited by Riley Lee. Photo: Mokara Gymnastics

Riley Lee is trying to help close the gap between Singapore and traditional gymnastics powerhouses. Photo: Handout

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Australian 2024 Olympian Emma Nedov guides young gymnasts on the academy’s opening day. Photo: Handout

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Charity Williams (right) and teammate Florence Symonds share a moment after winning silver at the Paris Olympics. Photo: AFP

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Golf

World No 84 missed cut in the four PGA Tour events before the major, but could provide biggest shock since Danny Willett won 10 years ago


World No 84 missed cut in the four PGA Tour events before the major, but could provide biggest shock since Danny Willett won 10 years ago.


Rory McIlroy

Scottie Scheffler

China’s Li Haotong survives tummy issues to enter Masters’ final day just 4 shots off lead

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}World No 84 missed cut in the four PGA Tour events before the major, but could provide biggest shock since Danny Willett won 10 years ago

World No 84 missed cut in the four PGA Tour events before the major, but could provide biggest shock since Danny Willett won 10 years ago