China's Li creates British Open sensation
China's Li Haotong plays out of a bunker on the 4th hole during the third round of the British Open at Royal Birkdale golf course, near Southport, northwest England, on July 22, 2017.
Chinese prodigy Li Haotong caused a sensation at the British Open on Sunday as he shot a 7-under-par 63 in his final round at Royal Birkdale to finish on 6 under overall. He was three behind leader Jordan Spieth.
Li, 21, started the day at 1-over for the championship and parred his first seven holes before a remarkable run of seven birdies and four pars in his remaining 11 holes.
Li, who shot an 84 in the final round of the US Open last month, hit his approach shot to just a few feet on the final hole to cap off his round.
It is just the 32nd round of 63 ever recorded in a major championship and just the 11th achieved at a British Open.
The score was the all-time low in a major until Saturday, when South Africa's Branden Grace broke new ground with an unprecedented 62 in the third round.
Spieth, meanwhile, was stumbling early. A day after making no bogeys in shooting a 65 he bogeyed three of his first four holes and saw his three-shot lead evaporate as American compatriot Matt Kuchar moved into a tie.
But Spieth rebounded on the fifth hole, putting it to 5 feet and making birdie to regain the lead.
