A decade later, Guan's amateur splash at Masters Tournament remains a record
Ten years ago, red azaleas stretched above the Butler Cabin fireplace as 14-year-old Tianlang Guan accepted his award for low amateur at the 2013 Masters Tournament.
Seemingly overnight, Guan’s name became interchangeable with the words phenom and prodigy. But time has brought hardships over the last decade. Today, Tianlang spends his days in Guangzhou, China, fittingly nicknamed “The City of Flowers.” He’s 24 and hasn’t competed in a second major championship. His world ranking is 2,866.
Tianlang, known by friends as Langly, tested positive for COVID earlier this year, and while quarantined, he reflected on his time at Augusta National.
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“It was very helpful to play with Ben Crenshaw,” Guan recalled via email. “I remember talking about different routes to putt on No. 18 green with him. Our drives were about the same distance so I learned a lot just by watching the way he plays. Playing (a practice round) with Tiger was also a great experience. I had met him before in China, but the atmosphere and the crowd at the Masters was very different.”
Tianlang qualified for the Masters by winning the 2012 Asian-Pacific Amateur, and was one of six amateurs to reside in the Crow’s Nest. He spent Monday night watching Louisville beat Michigan in the NCAA title game, but by Friday evening, he was alone.
“It was a great achievement to win low amateur and to be in the Butler Cabin on Masters Sunday,” he wrote. “Several other Chinese golfers have made it to the Masters and PGA Tour, and I know one day Chinese golf will shine on the biggest stage worldwide.”
At 14, Langly was the youngest competitor to make a cut in PGA Tour or major championship history. He’s also the youngest to play in a European Tour event — the 2012 Volvo China Open — at 13 years, 177 days.
The last decade, however, has proved trying. Tianlang spent two seasons at the University of Arizona, where he bounced in and out of the starting lineup. Following his sophomore season, he returned to China and turned pro.
As for his future, Guan wrote, “I will try to play more abroad this year since China lifted its COVID restrictions. I believe I will get back to Augusta one day soon.”
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Tianlang Guan's Masters splash couldn't bring success 10 years later
