Tianlang Guan made history on Thursday when at 14, he became the youngest player to play in the Masters. That record would have been his regardless of how he played in the first round, but for good measure, he turned in the round of his life.
Masters 2013: Tianlang Guan finishes 1st round in style
The 14-year-old Guan not only became the youngest player in Masters history on Thursday, he played pretty well while doing it.
Guan shot a 1-over 73 on Thursday, not only making him the low amateur of the first round, but also placing him ahead of several notable names. Tied for 46th, Guan is ahead of defending Masters champion Bubba Watson, Ian Poulter and several others. Guan, who qualified for the event by winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, started out his round with a bogey, but quickly rebounded.
A birdie on No. 3 got him back to even par before two bogeys left him at 2-over at the turn. It was an eventful back nine for Guan as he traded good and bad holes. He started off well with a birdie at No. 10 before dropping a stroke at No. 11. He followed a birdie at No. 13 with another bogey at No. 14.
He entered 18 at 2-over and after hitting his approach shot to the fringe of the green, he was in position to two-putt and close out his round at an impressive 2-over. Instead, he finished his round with an exclamation point, by sinking the lengthy putt from the fringe. The performance was impressive enough to draw applause from Guan’s playing partner and two-time Masters winner Ben Crenshaw.
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