14-Year Old Tianlang Guan Makes the Cut at The Masters

When Tianlang Guan left Lakewood Golf Club last year three weeks stay after the U.S. Open Qualifying, we knew the world’s top 13-year old golfer in the world had a great future. Turn the clocks forward less than one year and you have not only the youngest ever to play in The Masters, but more history to come this weekend. The golf world will get to see the phenom play on Saturday and Sunday.

A one-shot penalty for slow play was given to him on 17, which will be the topic of much discussion on how to deal properly with slow play that does plague professional golf. In spite of the penalty stroke he finished with a three over par-75 to go with his first round 73. Whether Guan’s four-over total would make the cut was in the hands of Jason Day, who had a par-par finish on the last two holes to ensured that the history Guan story would continue. Day would finish at 6-under for the two round lead, 10 strokes ahead of Guan.

Guan also received help from the premature stop to what looked like a classic Tiger Woods charge. On No. 15 on a shot that will be shown for years to come, Tiger’s approach shot from 87 yards to the par-5 hit the flagstick in the air on to riccocet off into the greenside creek. He went on to make an up-and-down for a great bogey. This moment was a round changer; after flying over the flag on 18 to the back of the green, he went on to three-putt and finish at 3-under par after two rounds.

The drama of The Masters and Augusta National really starts on the weekend. There will be a very large fan base in New Orleans and especially at the Lakewood Junior Golf Program cheering on the phenom Guan all the way. This was a great day for junior golf.

The Masters Leaderboard (through two rounds)

Par – 72-72 144

Jason Day – 70-68 138

Australia

*Fred Couples – 68-71 139

USA

Marc Leishman – 66-73 139

England

*Angel Cabrera – 71-69 140

Argentina

Jim Furyk – 69-71 140

USA

Brandt Snedeker 70-70 140

USA

Jason Dufner 68-73 141

USA

David Lynn 68-73 141

England

Lee Westwood 70-71 141

England

Justin Rose 70-71 141

South Africa

K.J. Choi 70-71 141

South Korea

*Tiger Woods 70-71 141

USA

*Past Masters Champion