Chinese golfer tees off young career

Observers wonder if China can become a great golfing nation, report Tang Zhe and Sun Xiaochen in Beijing and Garrett Johnston in Augusta, Georgia.

Chinese teenager Guan Tianlang had a memorable week at the Augusta National Golf Club in the United States.

When he teed off alongside the world's golfing elite on Thursday, the 14-year-old golfer became the youngest player in the history of the US Masters tournament. On Friday, he made history by becoming the first Chinese, and the youngest golfer ever, to make the cut in a major, making an instant mark on the game and winning fame virtually overnight.

Eventually, Guan finished the tournament in 58th place, 21 strokes behind winner Adam Scott of Australia and 17 behind his long-time idol Tiger Woods, who finished fourth.

Guan's achievement is noteworthy enough to pose an exciting question: Is China the next big thing in the world of golf?

In the eyes of Zhang Xiaoning, secretary-general of the Chinese Golf Association, who has led his association's "future star" program for six years, the answer is in the affirmative. Thanks to the program, tens of thousands of children have participated in amateur tournaments and training camps arranged by the association, and it looks as though China is well placed to become a major golfing nation.

"Guan is just one example. We have considerable talent in the under-16 age group. In the future, more and more Chinese golfers will emerge," Zhang said.

He has plenty of reasons to be optimistic. Even before Guan's recent efforts, several young Chinese golfers had made their mark on the world stage, including 24-year-old Feng Shanshan, whose victory at the LPGA Championship in June made her the first golfer from the Chinese mainland to win a major tournament. Meanwhile, in September, Wu Ashun served notice of his talent when he became the first male player from the Chinese mainland to win a tournament on the Japan Golf Tour.

"The impact of Guan's achievement goes beyond the tournament itself; it will be a huge driver for the development of golf in China," said Wu Wen, organizer of The China Futures Tour, an annual six-stop amateur tour in which Guan has participated.

Wu was in Augusta to watch Guan's game. "In making the cut at the Masters, Guan not only created a Chinese miracle, but also rewrote the history of the Masters. It's a gigantic shock to the golf world," she said. "Everyone here, from the spectators to the officials, is talking about Guan and Chinese golf. It's a considerable boost."

Ahead of the Masters, Guan was invited to play a practice round with the 1977 and 1981 Masters champion Tom Watson, and also meet with the "Golden Bear", 18-time major winner, Jack Nicklaus.

"Fourteen years old. I thought that was pretty sharp," said Nicklaus of Guan's achievement.