Guan ponders future after Masters splash
Source: Agencies |
April 16, 2013, Tuesday
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CHINESE eighth-grader Guan Tianlang will get back to homework and thinking about his future after concluding his incredible adventure as the youngest ever competitor in the Masters on Sunday.
The 14-year-old Asia-Pacific Amateur champion hit a delicate downhill lag putt at 18 that stopped two feet from the cup and then made par to complete a 73-75-77-75 set of rounds for a 12-over 300 total as low amateur.
After doffing his baseball cap to the applauding gallery at the last, Guan said he was unsure about his upcoming plans after winning so much attention at the Masters. "We have a couple invitations for me," he told reporters. "So we have to consider what to play, what not."
His mother, Guan Hongyu, said the family was heading to New Orleans to stay with a friend who lives there.
"Last year we spent one month with her in New Orleans," she said.
The PGA Tour happens to stop in New Orleans in two weeks for the Zurich Classic. "If we get an invitation, then we will consider," a friend of the Guans said with a smile.
Meanwhile, Guan was enjoying the glow of a major championship debut in which he suffered no three-putts and nothing worse than a bogey on his scorecards. A one-stroke penalty for slow play on Friday was his only hiccup.
In the final run-up to the tournament, Guan played practice rounds with two-time champions Ben Crenshaw and Tom Watson, and nine holes with four-time winner Tiger Woods. Asked about the best advice he had received, Guan said: "Mr. Ben Crenshaw said just play my own game and have fun."
Guan did just that, and said the Masters was his biggest accomplishment so far. "It's such a great week for me and I enjoy it so far and learned a lot," he said. "There's still a lot of things to improve. My short game's good, but still needs to be better. My driver probably needs to be longer. Everything needs to improve," he said breaking into a smile.
Guan was already a winner to his father. "I'm so happy. I'm so proud of him in front of so many patrons in such a great tournament," said Guan Hanwen. "He felt very nervous but played his game, so I'm so proud."
Guan said he was not contemplating turning professional any time soon. "I've not decided yet, but it won't be too early because there's still a lot of things to learn to improve. So nothing to rush."
The 14-year-old Asia-Pacific Amateur champion hit a delicate downhill lag putt at 18 that stopped two feet from the cup and then made par to complete a 73-75-77-75 set of rounds for a 12-over 300 total as low amateur.
After doffing his baseball cap to the applauding gallery at the last, Guan said he was unsure about his upcoming plans after winning so much attention at the Masters. "We have a couple invitations for me," he told reporters. "So we have to consider what to play, what not."
His mother, Guan Hongyu, said the family was heading to New Orleans to stay with a friend who lives there.
"Last year we spent one month with her in New Orleans," she said.
The PGA Tour happens to stop in New Orleans in two weeks for the Zurich Classic. "If we get an invitation, then we will consider," a friend of the Guans said with a smile.
Meanwhile, Guan was enjoying the glow of a major championship debut in which he suffered no three-putts and nothing worse than a bogey on his scorecards. A one-stroke penalty for slow play on Friday was his only hiccup.
In the final run-up to the tournament, Guan played practice rounds with two-time champions Ben Crenshaw and Tom Watson, and nine holes with four-time winner Tiger Woods. Asked about the best advice he had received, Guan said: "Mr. Ben Crenshaw said just play my own game and have fun."
Guan did just that, and said the Masters was his biggest accomplishment so far. "It's such a great week for me and I enjoy it so far and learned a lot," he said. "There's still a lot of things to improve. My short game's good, but still needs to be better. My driver probably needs to be longer. Everything needs to improve," he said breaking into a smile.
Guan was already a winner to his father. "I'm so happy. I'm so proud of him in front of so many patrons in such a great tournament," said Guan Hanwen. "He felt very nervous but played his game, so I'm so proud."
Guan said he was not contemplating turning professional any time soon. "I've not decided yet, but it won't be too early because there's still a lot of things to learn to improve. So nothing to rush."
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