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Record-breaker Guan targets US Open qualification

Guan Tianlang has become the youngest player to take part in a European Tour event after teeing off at the Volvo China Open aged 13 years and 177 days.

Guan booked his place in the 156-man field after finishing fourth in a mid-China qualifying event.

He has beaten the record of Lo Shih-kai, who was 13 years and 280 days old when he was involved in the 2003 Hong Kong Open.

However, Chinese golf prodigy Guan has not ruled out the possibility of reaching this year’s US Open too; something that would make him an outside bet on US Open golf.

The world junior champion said: “My goal for this week is to try to make the cut. Long term I was the youngest player to win the China amateur championship and it would be nice to be the youngest to win the China Open.

“After this tournament I think I want to try to qualify for the US Open.”

Guan could be struggling to make the cut at the China Open though after firing a five-over-par 77 in his first round.

His one birdie came on the seventh hole but he dropped shots on the first, fifth, sixth and ninth holes as well as firing a double-bogey six on the fourth. However, he parred all of the last nine holes.

Guan started playing when he was four and won the world junior crown last year in San Diego. He was 11 strokes clear of his nearest challenger after shooting a first-round 63 that included nine birdies and no bogeys.

It is thought that he could become the youngest player to ever compete in the Australian Masters in November and Australian Open in December. Those looking to bet on golf could do worse than keep an eye on this talented youngster for future events.