DP World Tour Championship: Power Ranking the top ten in Dubai

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 19: Jon Rahm of Spain shakes hands with Dean Burmester of South Africa on the 18th green during the final round of the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 19, 2017 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – NOVEMBER 16: Li Haotong of China plays his second shot on the 11th hole during the first round of the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 16, 2017 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images) /

Haotong Li has a great shot to become the first non-European winner of the DP World Tour Championship. The 23-year-old Chinese already owns two European Tour wins and is trending toward a third.

Li posted a T5 last week in Sun City for his fourth straight finish inside the top 11 and sixth in the top 27. He took solo second at the Turkish Airlines Open a couple weeks ago, only falling to then-world No. 1 Justin Rose in a playoff.

While Li couldn’t win that duel, he did hold off Rory McIlroy by one in regulation in January at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

At the DP World Tour Championship, Li improved from a T30 in 2016 to T13 last year. Six of his last seven rounds at the Earth course are under par.

Li’s fifth in strokes gained off the tee and has the distance to gain an advantage this week. His iron game and putting also rank in the top 50 in strokes gained.

Buyer beware: this will be his fourth straight week of competition in four different countries. With a spot in the top 10 of the Race to Dubai and some time off awaiting, methinks he’ll empty the tank for one last high finish this week.

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