A 14-year old chinese golfer is making big waves in the PGA Tour after making the cut in this week's Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas.
Guan Tianlang, an eighth grader from China, will be one of the five teen golfers to be awarded for the Byron Nelson International Junior Golf Awards, and at the same time, a participant in the main tournament.
But Guan is no stranger to big tournaments. Back in April, Guan became the youngest golfer to make the cut in a major championship at the 2013 Masters in Augusta, Georgia. The Chinese golfing prodigy did not disappoint in his first ever big tourney in the United States as he finished 58th.
Following his victory at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, Guan received a sponsor exemption granted to him by Zurich. He was impressive in the first two rounds, scoring rounds of 72 and 69. But he faltered in the next two round, finishing last in the field of 71 golfers.
"Always a challenge, every tournament, because this is another big event ... this is only my third start and everything is still new to me," Guan told the Associated Press on Wednesday, a day before the first round of Nelson's Championships. "I have to play my best and make some good score."
Without a doubt, Guan is already playing way beyond his actual age, though he remains hungry to improve his game.
"For this week, I want to enjoy the experience, great experience here," Guan said. "And hope to, yeah, make the cut. And if I make the cut hope to play better and better."
Guan said he had learned a lot over the two weeks of competing against the best golfers in the world, but insisted he's still far from reaching his main goal.
"Just a long way to go," Guan said, adding that he has learned a lot in just two starts. "Yeah, a little used to getting to know what to do on the tour. Best players in the world, what are they doing, what are they playing."
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