Haotong Li and Ashun Wu are back for Team China, and so are the celebrations.

In 2016, the Chinese combo produced a wonderful run at Kingston Heath, which included celebratory chest bumps, matching attire and long birdie putts, where they challenged for the tournament before ultimately finishing tied second behind Denmark.

“We’ll have a strong team this year,” Li said. “Hopefully we’ll have a good week down there.”

“I’m very happy to play with Haotong again,” Wu added.

The duo fought superbly during the final-day four-ball session, carding an impressive 7-under par 65, at one point getting to within two shots of the lead. The runner-up result secured their country’s best finish in the World Cup of Golf, which sets the bar high ahead of the duo’s return to the Melbourne Sandbelt.

“We still have a lot of chances to win this trophy, so I’m looking forward to it,” Li said. “This will certainly help the game in China. We have a big future.”

“My partner is a great player,” Wu said. “We’ll keep in touch, keep practicing hard and I know we can do better next time. Chinese players can win this tournament.”

Two years later, two of Asia’s biggest stars will have their shot at redemption against the other top countries at The Metropolitan Golf Club, November 21-25.

“I think we have a good chance. Haotong is feeling good right now and I’m feeling good right now, too,” Wu added.

Both players have won on the European Tour this year, with Li winning the Omega Dubai Desert Classic after beating Rory McIlroy in a head-to-head battle in the final round. Wu saw victory in the KLM Open for his third European Tour career victory.

For a nation that has truly embraced the sport of golf, their hopes at one day hoisting the prestigious World Cup of Golf trophy rests in the fate of two of their rising stars.

To bring everything full circle, China first hosted the World Cup of Golf at Mission Hills in 1995, and thereby introduced the game of professional golf into the world’s largest country.

As golf’s popularity has continued to grow since the World Cup’s first visit over 20 years ago, Li has quickly emerged as one of China’s most decorated golfers.

“When I first started playing golf, I didn’t think I can get in the World Cup one day, so it’s kind of a dream come true,” Li said.

After turning professional seven years ago, the 23-year-old from Hunan completed his inaugural PGA TOUR China Series season with a flourish, winning his final two events, capturing the 2014 Order of Merit title and earning Player of the Year honors.

In 2016, Li represented China when golf returned to the Olympics for the first time since 1904 in the Rio Olympic Games, where he was joined by Wu.

Following his victory this year at the Emirates Golf Club, he become the first Chinese player to break into the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking. He’d go on to become the first professional from China to make the cut at the Masters Tournament in April.

However, Li, alongside partner Wu, hope to add a World Cup of Golf title to their long list of successes.

“If we win, it’s going to be a huge win for China,” Li said.