NY Times · Jan 23, 2016
Li Hopeful Accidental Start in Golf Leads to Olympics
HONOLULU — Li Haotong is no stranger to the big stage, even as a 20-year-old from China who never had any intention of playing golf.
The year that Tiger Woods competed in China for the first time at the 2005 HSBC Champions, Li's father had a friend who wanted his own son to start training in golf. Li agreed to tag along for the first lesson.
"His son needed a friend, so my dad brought me to the golf course," said Li, who after only one year playing the Web.com Tour no longer needs a translator to get by. "I loved my first time on the golf course. I thought, 'This is awesome.' After that day, I started to play golf."
That friend is now in the military. Li is in fast company and holding his own.