LONDON: Li Haotong of China made four eagles on Saturday, including two in his last two holes, to grab a share of the lead with American Dustin Johnson at the Saudi International at the end of a third round in which Sergio Garcia was disqualified for damaging two greens.
Haotong’s incident-filled round of 8-under 62 — which also included a double bogey — finished with him driving the green at the 17th to set up a 6-foot putt for eagle before making a 3 at the par-5 18th.
Three of his eagles came on par 4 holes.
Johnson started the third round with a three-stroke lead and shot 65. The world No. 3 and Li were 16 under overall and five strokes ahead of Tom Lewis, who shot 62 for third outright.
Garcia was disqualified for “serious misconduct,” the European Tour said in a statement, after he shot 71.
The former Masters champion said “in frustration, I damaged a couple of greens, for which I apologize for, and I have informed my fellow players it will never happen again.”
Meanwhile, Haotong was quick to thank his lucky stars after his miraculous round at the Royal Greens.
“I think it was very, very lucky today. Those eagles, especially last couple shots, were really solid, but apart from that, honestly, my play, wasn’t that good. But I did made a lot of par putts.”
When asked about his round and its remarkable finish with his final eagle, Haotong said: “It was another lucky bounce on that one. I mean, off the tee, driving the bunker about two yards short to carry the bunker, and bounce over the bunker, it was lucky.
“Quite exciting on that one,” he added.
The Chinese superstar was confident of holding on to Johnson’s coat-tails, especially after his win in the region last year, when he triumphed in Dubai over Rory McIlroy.
“I just want to play my best, especially compared to last week.
“So I just have to put myself in the position, hopefully I get used to that feeling and play and enjoy myself on the final round.”
Front-runner Johnson was pleased with his efforts on Saturday.
“I thought I played well. Probably played just as well as I did (on Friday).
I gave myself a lot of opportunities, made a lot of good putts and just holed a few more (on Friday) than I did today, that was the only difference,” he said.
And the American paid tribute to the efforts of Haotong on the back nine.
“I heard when I was done, that’s pretty impressive. Four eagles in a golf tournament is pretty good, but four in one round, you take that any day.”
Johnson has won majors and PGA tournaments all over the world, but victory in Saudi Arabia would mark his first win on the European Tour, something Johnson is keen to achieve.
“It’s definitely an opportunity for me to see what I’ve got and I definitely would like to win a regular European Tour event. I’ve played in a few now. That’s something I haven’t done and so that would be a nice little way to send it back to the US (on Sunday).”
Li Haotong’s heroic round puts pressure on co-leader Dustin Johnson in Saudi Arabia
Li Haotong’s heroic round puts pressure on co-leader Dustin Johnson in Saudi Arabia
- Johnson started the third round with a three-stroke lead and shot 65
- Haotong’s incident-filled round of 8-under 62 saw him draw level with the American
Semenyo scores on Man City debut in 10-goal rout of Exeter
- Semenyo netted in the second half of City’s ruthless display at the Etihad Stadium
- He joined City from Bournemouth in an $87 million move on Friday
MANCHESTER: Antoine Semenyo scored on his Manchester City debut as the Ghana forward’s new side crushed Exeter 10-1 in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.
Semenyo netted in the second half of City’s ruthless display at the Etihad Stadium and injury-plagued midfielder Rodri also scored for the first time since May 2024.
Semenyo joined City from Bournemouth in a £65 million ($87 million) move on Friday and wasted no time making an impact with Pep Guardiola’s team.
Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham were among the other clubs interested in Semenyo, who had a buyout clause that would reportedly expire on Saturday.
Teenage defender Max Alleyne began the rout, prodding home from close-range for his first City goal in the 12th minute.
Rodri finally got back on the scoresheet in the 24th minute, lashing in from distance after Semenyo’s shot was blocked.
Own goals from Exeter duo Jake Doyle-Hayes and Jack Fitzwater in the 42nd minute and the 45th minute put the result beyond doubt.
But City kept pressing and Lewis volleyed in from Semenyo’s 49th minute.
Semenyo’s debut goal came five minutes later with a clinical finish.
Tijjani Reijnders curled in a seventh from the edge of the area in the 71st minute and Nico O’Reilly added the eighth with a fine header from a Lewis cross.
Ryan McAidoo, 17, hit the ninth from just outside the area in the 86th minute before George Birch blasted into the top corner to give Exeter at least one moment to savour.
City were not done and Lewis lashed home in stoppage-time to make it a perfect 10.
It was City’s biggest win since beating Huddersfield by the same scoreline in 1987.
They also defeated Burton by nine goals in a 9-0 victory in 2019.
Guardiola may not have been on the touchline as he served a one-match ban but it was clear from the team-sheet he meant business.
The City boss made six changes but still fielded a strong side including Erling Haaland.
He was rewarded with City’s first win in four games in all competitions after three successive Premier League draws left them trailing six points behind leaders Arsenal.
