JOIN US China's Guan Tianlang, the 14-year-old who on Thursday will become the youngest player ever to compete in the Masters, convinced his father at an early age that he was something special.
Guan Hanwen's son showed an interest at age three or four in watching him play, and it was not long before the elder Guan realised he was not equipped to help the boy. "Seven years old," Guan, who played to as low as a seven handicap, told Reuters through an interpreter on Tuesday when asked how old his son was when he first beat him at golf.
"I found him a coach, but the putting and the short game, he mainly taught himself. He loved the game so much, he taught himself... he watched TV and learned by himself."
Asia-Pacific amateur champion Guan’s fast-track education at Augusta National was advanced on Tuesday in a practice round with two-time Masters champion Tom Watson.
Watson came over to Guan's parents following the round. "I enjoyed playing with Guan," he told them after shaking hands and posing for pictures with them. "Guan has good tempo, his rhythm is very good.