All Eyes on Chinese Schoolboy in Masters Golf Tournament

When golf pros tee off at Augusta on Thursday, April 11th all eyes will be on Guan Tianlang, a Chinese schoolboy who is set to make history as the youngest ever entrant into the prestigious Masters golf tournament. At 14 years, five months and 17 days, Guan will be beating Matteo Manassero’s 2010 record.

The young Chinese golfing prodigy often trains in the United States and manages to juggle a heavy school workload with intensive golfing practice. His ambitions are certainly lofty, and he recently said in an interview that he wants to become the first player to win all four majors in one year. “I have  a dream since I was a little boy,” Guan told AFP. “I wish, one day, I can win all four majors in one year.”

Guan has broken a number of records in his short but impressive career, including the youngest member of the Volvo China Open at age 13.

Guan can expect plenty of attention in the first few days of the tournament which takes place on the 7,435-yard Augusta lay-out, not only because of his age but because is one of only five Asian players on the course (one fewer than last year).  In the past few years, major hopes have been pinned on players from the continent, with epic battles for top titles being fought between players from China and Japan.  But the reality resulting from tough competition in this year’s Masters means that there is a strong possibility that no Asian player will reach top spots in the tournament.

Other Asian players in the tournament include Japan’s Hiroyuki Fujita, who, as a top 50 ranker, earned himself a place at Augusta;  Ryo Ishikawa, also from Japan and Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant.  Both Ishikawa and Wiratchant were given special invites.  The fifth Asian player to round off the representing contingent from the continent is 2009 PGA Championship winner, the Korean YE Yang whose victory remains unparalleled among Asian players.