Teenager bidding to book Muirfield spot

OPEN QUALIFYING: Chinese teenager Guan Tianlang, who will become the youngest player to compete at the US Masters in April, is attempting to get into this year’s Open Championship at Asian International qualifying starting today.

By The Newsroom

Published 28th Feb 2013, 01:57 BST

Guan, who is 14, is hoping to secure one of the four available spots at the Amata Spring CC in Thailand, where he won the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in November to seal his Masters debut.

“I have played at some professional golf tournaments before and it is always great to play with the professional golfers. I can learn so much from them, so I am looking forward to IFQ-Asia,” said Guan.

Also in the field for the 36-hole event is Banchory’s James Byrne, who is aiming to secure a return to Muirfield, where he reached the final of the Amateur Championship in 2010.