Does Haotong Li have a chance of catching Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young on Sunday at the Masters?

Jordan Kaye, The State on Apr 11, 2026

Published in Golf

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AUGUSTA, Ga. — Haotong Li 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 5-under 67 on Friday, Li admitted he was, uh, well, kept up the night before.

“Went to the toilet last night a lot of times,” Li said 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 Friday, thinking that if he still felt sick after a few holes, he’d 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 Pepto? Birdies at Augusta National.

“Somehow I felt quite nice,” he said Friday. “So glad I survived today.”

After shooting 1-under on Thursday, his marvelous 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 3-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 Saturday, Li was 9-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. Bogies on holes 15 and 18 shot him down the leaderboard and put a damper on his hopes for a major championship.

And, well, it could have been worse. He pulled off the weekend-warrior approach shot into No. 15, a skulled long iron that whizzed low … and right into the water. Even the tame Jim Nantz let out a befuddled “good gracious” on the CBS broadcast.

“Just some negative thoughts between my backswing,” Li said of the shot. “Somehow something clicked, I don’t know.”

Not much was expected of Li at this Masters. Heck, he only qualified for the tournament 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 doesn’t 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 like McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler (Li’s playing partner on Sunday).

Even if Li does not win Sunday, this week was an endearing introduction for most casual golf fans.

Even before the toilet tales, no player seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as Li during the par-3 contest. Li was playing in a group with Bryson DeChambeau on Wednesday. DeChambeau had comedian and actor Kevin Hart caddie for him. Li asked his mother.

If that wasn’t enough for dichotomy, Li seemed more enthused to see Hart than DeChambeau. As the story goes, Li learned English by watching Hart’s stand-up specials and felt like they had the same personality.

“My hero,” Li told Hart, laughing. “You are my favorite. Let’s go. Let’s (expletive) go, man.”

Does Li have a shot at putting on the green jacket Sunday? It seems unlikely, especially given the names in front of him: McIlroy, Young, Justin Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, etc.

But as we saw a decade ago, crazy things can happen on Sundays in Augusta — and no one would have more fun in a green jacket than Lee.