Teenage prodigy Guan shines at Masters with 73

Guan Hong Yu said on Thursday she was not anxious about how her 14-year-old son Tianlang would do as the youngest competitor ever at the Masters.

"I'm not nervous," she told reporters at the practice putting green minutes before he teed off for the first round.

"He has played in more than 200 tournaments. He is very experienced."

Mother knows her son very well, as the extraordinarily composed eighth grader toured the treacherous Augusta National course in one-over-par 73 and won the hearts and respect of galleries up and down the spiritual home of U.S. golf.

"I just feel comfortable and relaxed," the cool and calm Guan said after outscoring his playing partners, two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw (80) and Italy's Matteo Manassero (75), who three years ago set the old Masters standard as youngest player at age 16.

"I played some good golf and it just feels great."

The smooth-swinging Guan was just one stroke away from the 72 four-time winner Tiger Woods recorded as a 19-year-old in his first round at the Masters, and three shots better than six-times winner Jack Nicklaus recorded at 19 in his first Masters.

A care basket that included two bananas, some energy bars and fruit juice packed by his mother might have helped, along with the encouragement from an entourage of more than a dozen friends and family that followed him every step of the way.

On a breezy, overcast day that threatened rain, Guan exceeded expectations, sparkling with a short game that took the breath away from the seasoned Crenshaw.

"He played about four of the most beautiful delicate pitches you've ever seen," said Crenshaw, who applauded Guan after he pitched into a mound from behind the par-three sixth green to trickle the ball down close and save par.

"He played like a veteran today," the 61-year-old said.

"He played like a journeyman, a 28-year-old journeyman who's been around the block, made a ton of cuts. He played a beautiful round of golf."

EMOTIONAL FINISH

The 14-year-old ended his major championship debut with a birdie putt right on the day's magic number of 14, curling in a 14-footer at the 18th to finish the first round as low scorer by three strokes among the six amateur players in the field.

The Asia-Pacific Amateur champion showed his first emotion of a five-hour tour of Augusta National at the last hole, thrusting his right arm into the air and waving his cap to the cheering crowd after bending in a left-to-right curler for his closing birdie.

"It was like a dream come true," Guan admitted. "Playing in the Masters is pretty amazing."

The slightly-built teenager made up for a lack of length off the tee, where he routinely drives the ball about 260 yards, with his deft short game, drawing roars of appreciation with his rescue work at the sixth, 11th, 13th and 17th holes.