14-year-old who is youngest to play Masters birdies 18 to finish at 1-over 73

Amateur Guan Tianlang, of China, celebrates after a birdie putt on the 18th green during the first round of the Masters golf tournament today.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Fourteen-year-old Guan Tianlang is the youngest golfer ever to compete at the Masters.

But he looked more like a veteran today when he shot a 1-over 73 in his debut at Augusta National.

Guan made a 15-footer from off the green to birdie his final hole, getting a standing ovation from the crowd at No. 18. Leading the cheers was two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw, one of Guan’s playing partners.

If he plays this way Friday, the eighth-grader from China could set another record as the youngest player to make the cut at the Masters.

The Asia Pacific Amateur champion says he doesn’t think he can win the Masters this year. But he thinks he can in the future, and his goal is to win all four majors in one year.