Li Haotong is aiming to take another big step on his golfing journey this week when he tees it up on home soil at the WGC-HSBC Champions.
The 23 year old made his breakthrough on the world stage at Sheshan International Golf Club three years ago, finishing in a tie for seventh for a third top ten of a breakthrough season that gave only a glimpse of what was to come.
A win at the Volvo China Open followed in 2016 and when he held off the challenge of Rory McIlroy to claim the Omega Dubai Desert Classic earlier this season, he became the first Chinese player ever to enter the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
He arrives in Shanghai off the back of two top tens on the European Tour and is aiming for a win that would catapult him to golf's very top table.
"I feel that I will have a breakthrough this year because I have pretty good momentum and I'm in pretty good shape," he said. "I'm definitely looking for not only a good score here this week here at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, but also to have a breakthrough.
I feel that I will have a breakthrough this year because I have pretty good momentum and I'm in pretty good shape - Li Haotong
"Hopefully I can have a good result this week and have a good finish to the season."
Li's victory in Dubai also moved him alongside Wu Ashun as the most successful Chinese player in European Tour history, although his countryman has since moved on to three wins with his victory at the KLM Open.
Li is currently 54th in the Official World Golf Ranking and while he knows the importance of getting into that top 50 to make it into the biggest international events, he also knows the only way to get there is to keep his focus on the course.
"To be able to get such a good result at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic this year certainly gave me a marker for this year's performance," he said.
"When I was out of the world's top 50 the pressure is pretty high but following the past couple of weeks I'm picking up momentum and I'm in good shape.
"That's more important than the ranking because I have to put more focus to keep myself at a high level and to keep stable and keep in good shape. That's more important than just focusing on the ranking."
Li is one of seven Chinese players in the field this week and is looking forward to playing in front of a home crowd, a situation he feels he has grown into during his career.
"It is a lot of pressure but I think right now I'm much better in comparison," he said. "I think three years ago, I was one behind in the last or second group. So I enjoy it more and I'm more used to it, I think.
"I am trying to find more joy in every single tournament that I play but I do feel that playing golf is a fun thing. It's an interesting thing and as long as I can keep this kind of positive attitude I will definitely play better and enjoy it more."
