Chinese golf prodigy Guan Tianlang says there’s “no limit” to what he can achieve at next year’s US Masters if he qualifies by retaining his Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship title this week.
The Guangzhou schoolboy sent shockwaves through the sport at Augusta National in April when, aged just 14 years, five months and 18 days, he became the youngest golfer to make the cut at a major tournament.
And Guan, who lifted the Silver Cup for best-placed amateur, believes the experience will leave him better prepared second time around, should he again qualify by winning the Asian amateur title on home soil in Nanshan, starting Thursday.
“I really hope I can play at the Masters next April and I will definitely try my best to go high up on the leaderboard,” said Guan.
“As much as I would enjoy my second Masters experience, I hope I can make it to the weekend, win the low amateur again and of course go as far as I can. There is no limit on that.”
Guan said he has ditched his belly putter — ahead of a ban on the clubs from 2016 — and has also been working on his strength and fitness to put distance on his shots.
He won the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship by a single stroke in Thailand last November, holding his nerve to sink a crucial five-foot putt on the last hole.
Guan’s prize, entry to the Masters, made him the tournament’s youngest ever competitor, beating the record set by Italy’s Matteo Manassero in 2010 when he was aged 16.
He has no shortage of ambition, saying before the Masters that he aimed to become the first player to win the hallowed ‘Grand Slam’ — all four majors in the same year.
Despite his slim build and lack of distance with the driver, Guan earned acclaim at Augusta by shooting rounds of 73, 75, 77 and 75 for 58th place.
And he attracted widespread sympathy when he was hit with a harsh penalty for slow play.
Guan, who turns 15 on Friday, said his game was now much improved after his fitness work and experiences this year.
He said he has learned from the likes of Tiger Woods at the Masters, and in other big pro tournaments.
“I think my distance has improved a bit because of my fitness training during the summer break,” he said.
“It is not just about the game, but more importantly the experience and what I have learnt from the top golfers, the best professional events, helped me grow.”