Haotong Li shot an incredible 63 on the final day at The Open, and hopes today’s performance will inspire future generations of Chinese golfers to succeed on the biggest stage.

The score was the joint lowest final round in Major history and 21-year-old Li, who is a graduate of the CGA-HSBC Junior Golf Program, said: "Today has been an incredible day for myself and Chinese golf on the whole. Since first becoming involved in golf through the CGA-HSBC China Junior Golf Program, I've dreamt of days like these.

I hope my performance can inspire many young Chinese golfers to follow in my footsteps and that one day soon we will see male Chinese golfers emulate the success of Feng Shanshan to win at a Major Championship.

“It wouldn't have been possible to get where I have without support from my team and supporters of the game in China such as HSBC."

In 2016, Haotong Li became the youngest winner of the China Open on the European Tour, aged 20, when an inspired final round of 64, eight under par, saw him win by three.

As reward for finishing third at The Open, Haotong Li will be awarded a place at The Masters next year, where two of his compatriots and fellow CGA-HSBC Junior Golf Program alumni 19-year-old Jin Cheng, and Guan Tianlang have made notable performances.  

In 2013, at the age of 14, Guan Tianlang took the golfing world by storm in 2013 when he became the youngest ever golfer to make the cut at a major at the Masters.

HSBC’s Global Head of Sponsorship Giles Morgan said: “Haotong Li’s performance today is testament to the incredible and unstoppable growth of golf in China.

“Days like these are proof of the success of the investment HSBC has made in Chinese youth golf.”

“Haotong was first inspired into the game as a youngster by attending our tournament, HSBC Champions in Sheshan and is a graduate of the CGA-HSBC Junior Golf Program, a development program we started ten years ago with the ambition of supporting future Chinese champions.

“We are confident his performance will inspire many more to succeed on the biggest stage.”

The CGA-HSBC Junior Golf Program was launched by the China Golf Association and HSBC in 2007 and over the past decade the program has put golf clubs in the hands of more than 80,000 children and provided a platform for young, elite talent.

Key features of the program include the HSBC National Junior Golf Championship, the HSBC China Junior Golf Open, the HSBC Junior Golf Winter/Summer Camp and the HSBC School Golf Training Program.

Supervised by a development committee that has representatives from HSBC, the CGA, IMG and The R&A, it has been a driving force behind the dramatic growth of golf in China.

In 2016, golf sponsor HSBC reaffirmed its commitment to golf in China by extending its sponsorship of the CGA-HSBC China Junior Golf Program until 2020.