The Masters 2026: Who is Haotong Li? Meet the Chinese golfer challenging for the green jacket

The leaderboard at the top of the 90th edition of The Masters is stacked with familiar faces.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy is tied at the summit after 54 holes alongside America's Cameron Young.

Major winners Shane Lowry, Jason Day and Justin Rose are also in the hunt. Sam Burns is targeting his first big win.

World number one and pre-tournament favourite, Scottie Scheffler, is four adrift after spending the first three days hiding in plain sight.

And what about Patrick Reed? The 2018 Masters champion will tee off at 18:30 BST only five behind the leaders.

There is one man, though, who nobody tipped to win the green jacket at all that finds himself with a bona fide chance to become the first player from China to win a men's major.

His name is Haotong Li.

Li, 30, is making his first appearance at Augusta National since 2019 and third overall.

His major record, overall, is underwhelming. Since 2017, Li has teed up in the big four on 17 occasions and has missed the cut in five of them.

Li almost quit the sport in 2021 after a loss of form and enduring several injuries.

But he has persevered and, last year, was among the players who graduated to the PGA Tour via the European-based DP World Tour.

His improved form last season saw him become a contender for the claret jug at Royal Portrush.

Li played in the final pairing alongside Scheffler at The Open but a final-round 70 saw him ultimately share fourth place and finish six back of Scheffler.

It was a great learning experience for Li, though, who also asked the dominant force in the men's game if he could pick his brain during a practice round.

"I just said, is there any time I can practice with you when I go to the PGA Tour, and he said yes," Li previously told GOLF.

"But I said, when I text you, you better reply to me.

"And he goes, 'Haotong Who?' That was actually funny. Just a lovely guy to play with."

That Li has made it to the first tee at Augusta National on Thursday was also a surprise.

After firing a one-under 71, Li revealed that he had spent all night "living in the toilet" after getting food poisoning from a dodgy lobster roll and poke bowl.

He thought he was going to be forced to withdraw.

"I didn't hit many balls on the driving range," he said. "I was feeling really, really bad. No energy, fuzzy, want to throw up something.

"I actually just planned to play a few holes, see how it goes. If really sick, then I probably just decide not to. I'm glad I survived today."

Li has not only survived but thrived since. He was rewarded with 69 on Friday. An all-white outfit suggested he was feeling much better.

He signed for his second consecutive 69 on Saturday.

Li is also a man of few words.

On Saturday evening, the chasers revealed what it would mean to them to clinch join the exclusive club of Masters champions.

Rose, twice a runner-up here, spoke at length as he revealed he still harbours aspirations to win the career grand slam.

Lowry said 'we'll see what everyone is made of' as he vowed to embrace the moment.

Young said he knows he has to earn it and attack the day.

Li, though, kept it simple. 

"Well, I just want to play my game," he said.  "And hopefully get some momentum for the rest of the season."

A first major triumph that would reward Li with an invite back to the Augusta for the rest of his days and a $4.6m winner's cheque would certainly do just that.