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.
Congratulations to this fine young man! Enjoy yourself!
Who cares what you shoot just enjoy the moment of a life time!!
GOOD LUCK.
WHO CARES
well Bruce obviously you do but cant admit it. you are probably a frustrated loser who has never done anything and you are bitter.too bad
You do.
i have fifteen pennies in my brain for the appleking.
Another right wing conspiracy. China is taking over. We need to close our borders
Ah'm sorry Ah troll you so much, Thelma Lou, but you won't let me wear your dresses and it makes me madder than a wet hen.
He won't make it past the first round
rajah calm down and try to grow up. its a shame you are so cynical but then again I understand it if you cant deliver the goods yourself
pretty sure he will without a doubt make it past the first round...... I say he plays atleast 2 rounds... just sayin....
Hope he doesn't plan on earning his green card this way. All these immigrant types need to just stay the f in there own country.
Actually , he makes more money than you therefore contributing to the U.S economy . We should deport you instead since you don't make as much money as he does nor do you have the talent that he has.
hey jeremy shettler your not the brightest bulp you gave your complete name and identified yourself as a moronic bigot.
now all your friends know to be true what they only suspected
Hate to think what will happen to his family in PRC if he loses.
I bet he doesn't use Chinese made clubs.
I hope he wins ! 🙂
Another succesful high quality export from China !
Well done Andy Zhang !
May your tribe increase !
he's trained in USA not PRC
He's probably been trained at gun point for the last 13 years, with the promise of a swift execution if he dares to disgrace China.
FORE!!!!TEEN!!! Good for him!
i took a dump on a semi truck on an interstate by hanging my butt off a bridge. yup i contributed to this intellectual debate.