A 14-year-old from China will become the youngest golfer ever to play in the U.S. Open when he tees it up at The Olympic Club in San Francisco on Thursday.
Andy Zhang got a spot in the 156-player field when England's Paul Casey withdrew on Monday with a shoulder injury, the USGA announced.
"(When I got the call), my mind just went blank," Zhang told GolfWeek. "Then, I said 'Wait! What? I am in the U.S. Open?'
"I will just try to enjoy it as much as possible," Golf Digest quoted the teen as saying. "I want to play well, but just to play on a major championship course is great."
Zhang plays out of the IMG Academy sports school in Bradenton, Florida. He won't turn 15 until December 14. The previous youngest player in the 112 playings of the U.S. Open was Tadd Fujikawa, who was 15 years, 5 months old when he played in the 2006 tournament.
Zhang was the second alternate to get into this year's Open. Another teen, 18-year-old Jordan Spieth of Dallas, Texas, got in when Brandt Snedeker withdrew because of an injury.
Zhang becomes the eighth amateur and second high school student in the field. Beau Hossler, 17, of Rancho Santa Margarita, California, is the other. He'll be playing in his second consecutive U.S. Open.
Now that he's officially in the tournament, Zhang will play a practice round Tuesday morning with the winner of this year's first major tournament, Masters' champ Bubba Watson, according to GolfWeek.
For the event's first round on Thursday, Zhang will play with Japan's Hiroyuki Fujita and American Mark Wilson.
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great to see young kids getting a chance to play with their heros
You just said, "it's great to see kids play with their [sandwiches]", but even that is colloquial. The word you are looking for is heroes.
Doesn't this kid know that they should be in a Nike sweatshop and not out on the greens?
just an fyi, you wouldn't say out on the "greens", just the course will do. So that next time you want to make an unfunny joke you don't come off looking like a completely incompetent loser. cheers.
You sound funny and silly just like one of uncles call Uncle Tim. Always telling you where you ought to be. Don't let him see you talking to some girl in the neighborhood. You will be sorry!
You are one of the reasons why people around the world think American are only living in their own shoes box.
You think your comment is funny??? I think you are ignorant, to post something so stupid.
Hey PB - brilliant name. Refers to Sandusky's hobby – maybe yours. You obviously are a 4chan fan. Why don't you send an email to your local country sheriff with that moniker. i d i o t
@PEDO BEAR:
You sound funny and silly just like one of my uncles call Uncle Tim.
Always telling you where you ought to be. Don't let him see you talking to some girl in the neighborhood.
You will be sorry!
China, Florida? Is that the same place?
Mexico-California= same place.
I guess that means he goes to school in the U.S.
Oh yeah, pair the poor kid with Bubba. A hole in one for Sino-Redneck relations.
I've never read anything so excruciatingly dull in my life.
that's incredible, thanks for the insight. I hope the exact moment the kid tees off, everyone in your family dies instantly.
you mean.....except for the OTHER story you made the exact same comment about, right? Just trying to get this right!
This story was a little confusing from China? from Florida? but I wish the kid a fun time.
The kid is from China, attends the IMG Academy sports school in Bradenton, Florida and will play the US Open at The Olympic Club in San Francisco on Thursday.
And they call this a major championship?
Yes. And the point you're TRYING to make is .....?
This is wonderful "HYPE" for T.V. Way to go PGA lessen the quality of play and by the way, keep us updated on the latest ratings, would you, please.
SPENT, a player has to *qualify* for the US Open. That means this kid qualified, he wasn't just chosen out of thin air.
But, hey, never let the facts get in the way of your talking point, right?
Hey, Jackson! I know that! Lighten up, dude, just having a little fun here. My number is an 11 and trying to work on the short game..maybe at 68 I will be the oldest to qualify. Oh that's right I not know that there is a magic number before one can attempt qualifying and I bet you know that "magic number." Right?
@SPENT – Just for fun. Try filing a complaint with the PGA. They should get a real laugh out of it since this is a USGA sanctioned event.
This makes no sense. There are PGA tour pros who were on the cusp of qualifying and they let a kid in? Besides being unfair, it dilutes the field. If he's that good, then let him qualify when he turns pro.
Open to the public of whom qualifies and that is why it is called an "Open."
This is not a PGA tour event. This is a USGA event. The event is for pro golfers and amateurs who qualify. One of the greatest victories in the history of the US Open took place in 1913 when a little known 20 year old amateur named Francis Ouimet won at Brookline. There was also another amateur with a few victories to his name. Some guy named Bobby Jones – you know – the guy who founded the club where the Masters is now held. The USGA is about the game of golf, not the profession of golf.
Kid is a +3.6 index
Jerry Sandusky offered to coach him.
Good for him. Beats playing video games all summer long.
Good luck young man.
I just came here because it is the only forum without someone bringing up politics.
But you just did....
Oh well, Go Obama!