Love Li

The Omega Dubai Desert Classic has a proud history of breakthroughs. As the first Middle Eastern or Asian stop on the European Tour, the event itself is an enduring pioneer and has famously gone on to serve as a launching pad for two of the most decorated careers of the modern era.

- Kent Gray

When Ernie Els distanced himself by six strokes from Greg Norman in 1994, the South African not only captured the first of his record three Dallahs but also a maiden main tour victory. The ‘Big Easy’ was on his way. Fast forward to 2009 and the 20th anniversary edition of the ‘Major of the Middle East’ and a pudgy-faced teen by the name of Rory McIlroy announced himself to the wider world, edging Justin Rose by the skinniest of margins to become the youngest champion at 19 years and 273 days, a record that prevails a decade later. Remember too that victories by Danny Willett and Sergio Garcia famously provided impetus for their respective major breakthroughs at Augusta National in 2016 and 2017.

Haotong Li has a way to go to match the feats of Els, McIlroy and indeed any number of the Desert Classic’s exalted roll