Golf sensation who made Masters history broke strict Augusta rule

Thousands of players have participated in the Masters over the years but only one did as a 14-year-old.

Guan Tianlang was seven years off the legal drinking age in the United States when he rocked up at the iconic Augusta course for the 2013 edition of the Masters.

Still in school, he qualified for the prestigious event after winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Thailand in 2012.

The amateur was invited to play practice rounds with 15-time major winner Tiger Woods before the tournament. Guan was not even born when Woods, then the No.1 ranked player, won his first Masters.

Though he didn't take home the coveted Green Jacket, Guan, the youngest player to play the weekend of a major event, finished tied 58th in the 2013 Masters and took home the Silver Cup in the Butler Cabin for the lowest-scoring amateur.

Guan played with Tiger Woods in practice. Image: Getty

He finished on+12 (300 total) after scoring 73, 75, 77 and 75 across the four rounds. However, in the second round, Guan was given a controversial penalty.

On the Friday, Guan was penalised and given a one-stroke penalty for slow play on the 17th hole.

Guan received multiple warnings before the first penalty for slow play since Gregory Bourdy at the 2010 PGA Championship was issued. Despite the mistake, he still made the cut and completed all four rounds.

Two-time masters Ben Crenshaw leapt to his defence and said he was "so sorry this has happened". He had also said he "played like a veteran".

A fortnight on and Guan competed in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and later played golf alongside his studies at the University of Arizona for a two-year period.

He turned professional in 2020 and began playing on the PGA Tour Series China and China Tour. His best finish on that tour came in 2020 when he finished T4 at the Volvo China Open

Now 27, Guan entered the First Stage of PGA Tour Q School in Alabama in October 2024 but failed to reach the next round.

Guan is hoping to return to the Masters. Image: Getty

He is still awaiting a return to a major but in an in-depth interview with Today's Golfer, last year, Guan expressed his desire to get himself back to Augusta and participating in the top tournaments.

“It’s a motivation for me to show that I have – you can say talent, but I don’t like to use the word talent – what it takes to be able to compete at the highest level," he stated.

“I know that’s in me. I know if I just keep doing the right thing, then I’ll be able to do that again.”