Guan's father, Guan Hanwen, fell in love with golf when university friends, who'd picked up the game while working overseas, invited him to play.
After Guan qualified for the Masters, Ho, the Lion Lake owner, built a practice green with low-cut grass to match the speed of Augusta National's, and allowed only Guan to play on it.
WSJ: Guan Tianlang: A Schoolboy Steals Day One of the Masters
Though Guan had played about a dozen practice rounds before the tournament, it often takes golfers years to figure out the best way to play Augusta National and Guan repeatedly sought the advice of his caddie, Brian Tam, who is a regular caddie at the course.
On a day when countless eighth graders across the country saw their orthodontists and fretted over potential dates for the middle school graduation dance, Guan calmly played in the world's most famous golf tournament in a threesome that included Ben Crenshaw, the 61-year-old former Masters champion who is old enough to be Guan's grandfather.
WSJ: Guan Tianlang: A Schoolboy Steals Day One of the Masters
Tony brings the group to Guan Hoe Soon (www.guanhoesoon.com), arguably Singapore's most famous Peranakan restaurant.
BBC: Singapore��s marathon food tour (bring an empty stomach)
Guan ended up making the cut, taking the heat off of the tournament leaders.
So when Guan gets taller, stronger and longer, he's a surefire Hall of Famer, right?
WSJ: Tianlang Guan and the Sport That Eats Its Young | Golf Journal by John Paul Newport
"I don't know what they do, but I don't think I'm too bad, " Guan said.
Guan is believed to be the first player penalized for slow play at the Masters.
"A rule is a rule, " Guan's father, Han Wen, said after his son was penalized.
Guan said he has never had issues with slow play before, and he wasn't warned Thursday.
Guan went on the clock on 12, and received his first warning at the 13th.
What makes Guan all the more surprising is his country's ambivalence toward the sport.
WSJ: Guan Tianlang: A Schoolboy Steals Day One of the Masters
Standing over his putt, a drive from the group following Guan's rolled up on the green.
WSJ: Guan Tianlang: A Schoolboy Steals Day One of the Masters
Jackie Crenshaw yelled as Guan's second shot on the seventh hole rolled toward the rough.
WSJ: Guan Tianlang: A Schoolboy Steals Day One of the Masters
After bogeying the opening hole, Guan barely missed a birdie putt on the second.
WSJ: Guan Tianlang: A Schoolboy Steals Day One of the Masters
Fans took Guan's long and narrow panels as a reference to traditional Chinese scrolls.
Somehow, Guan was the "most welcomed" in Australian art circles, wrote critic John McDonald.
As an amateur, Guan Tianlang isn't picking up any prize money or signing endorsement deals.
With the help of the elder Mr Guan, he narrowed his search to the village of Zhelaizhai.
Guan's group, which included Crenshaw and Matteo Manassero, was declared out of position on the 10th hole.
WSJ: At the Masters, the Eighth-Grader Gets Detention | Golf Journal by John Paul Newport
For all the talk of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, Guan added a buzz to the Masters.
Guan and his playing partners, Ben Crenshaw and Matteo Manassero, never held up the group behind them.
Many feel Lim has mellowed and lets Guan Eng and deputy leader Karpal Singh raise controversial issues.
Guan Eng contends the issue is premature because he is not offering himself for any top job.
In 2005, Guan finished fourth in the 6-and-under category at the San Diego Junior World Golf Championships.
Guan had a bogey at the par-3 second after his tee shot off the back of the green.
"I missed a couple of birdie putts in the middle but overall not a bad round, " Guan said.
"I really couldn't be happier -- I'm so excited right now, " Guan said on the European Tour website.
Guan Tianlang, the 14-year-old from China, went his second straight round without a birdie and had a 77.
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