At 12:24 am (Beijing time) on Friday, the golfing world was set to witness Guan's history-making debut. Guan has been paired with '84 US Masters champion Ben Crenshaw and the previous youngest player to compete for the coveted green jacket in Italian Matteo Manassero. He was 16 in 2010 when he first played in the Masters.
During the par-three contest on Wednesday, Guan shot a one-over 28 on the short course in the festive event while playing partners Faldo and Cabrera finished at two-under and even-par respectively.
It was a time of fun and enjoyment more than anything else.
Asked if Faldo imparted any last-minute advice on playing the challenging Augusta National course, Guan answered: "Not really, today was more about just having fun."
In the context of that fun, Faldo jokingly asked Guan to help him bend down on the first green to read his birdie putt. Faldo reasoned that it was because he is an "old man". Guan smiled and obliged the former champion's request.
Before Faldo putted, he joked aloud that "it always breaks toward the ocean", a statement which drew a chuckle from the large gallery following the group.
Although he would miss the putt and settle for par, as he and Guan often did on Wednesday, the trio seemed to enjoy its time together on a sunny Georgian afternoon.
Asked what he would take away from his first experience at the par-three event, Guan said: "Just having fun here. It's great ... good memories."
WWII TV dramas border on the ridiculous
Feedback
RSS
