中國高球天才少年將創造大師賽歷史

Golf fans across the globe are yet to forget Bubba Watson's tears of joy following his hard-fought Masters victory at the Augusta National Golf Club in April. But in 2013, the winner's green blazer may have to be shrunk if teen prodigy Guan Tianlang, from southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, has his way.

今年4月在奧古斯塔國家高爾夫俱樂部(Augusta National Golf Club)，布巴·沃森(Bubba Watson)經過苦戰奪得美國高爾夫大師賽的冠軍。全世界的高爾夫球迷尚未忘記他奪冠後開心流淚的一幕。但2013年，如果來自中國南方城市廣州的天才少年關天朗一路奪魁，大師賽冠軍的綠色外套可能就得做小一些了。

The eighth grader on Sunday won the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at the Amata Spring Country Club in Bangkok by one stroke to secure an invite to the Masters in April and to the final stage of British Open qualifying in July.

Reuters2012年11月4日，中國高球選手關天朗在泰國春武里府的阿瑪塔溫泉鄉村俱樂部參加亞太業餘錦標賽。在泰國贏得亞太業餘錦標賽冠軍後，這位14歲的中國少年將成爲參加美國高爾夫大師賽的最年輕選手。11月4日，在曼谷的阿瑪塔溫泉鄉村俱樂部(Amata Spring Country Club)，剛上八年級的關天朗以一杆的優勢奪得亞太業餘錦標賽(Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship)的冠軍，從而獲得了明年4月出席美國高爾夫大師賽的參賽資格，併入圍了7月的英國公開賽(British Open)資格賽。

At 14 years and 5 months old, Guan will be Augusta's youngest starter on record, trumping Italy's Matteo Manassero, who previously held the distinction when as a 16-year-old he finished as low amateur in a tie for 36th at the 2010 Masters.

14歲零5個月的關天朗將會是奧古斯塔球場迎來的最年輕球員，刷新此前由意大利人馬納賽羅(Matteo Manassero)保持的最年輕參賽選手記錄。馬納賽羅16歲時以業餘選手身份參加了2010年的美國高爾夫大師賽，最終成績爲並列第36名。

'I'm so excited. I'm really happy to become the youngest player at the Masters and looking forward to going there. I don't know what's going to happen there, but I know I just want to do well,' Guan told reporters on a conference call from Bangkok, according to Agence France-Presse.

據法新社(Agence France-Presse)報道，關天朗在曼谷的一個電話會議上對記者們說，我太興奮了。我很高興能成爲大師賽最年輕的選手，並盼望着參賽。我不知道到時候會怎麼樣，但我知道自己只想好好表現。

On that call, Guan said he hopes to organize a practice round at Augusta with idol Tiger Woods, describing the American as a player with a strong mind and a strong heart, according to AFP. The teen's earliest memory of watching the Masters was in 2005 when Woods secured his fourth -- and most recent -- green blazer.

據法新社報道，關天朗在電話中說，他希望能在奧古斯塔與自己的偶像老虎伍茲(Tiger Woods)打一場練習賽，並說伍茲是一個有着堅定意志和強大心靈的選手。關天朗對觀看美國高爾夫大師賽的最早記憶是在2005年，當時伍茲第四次奪冠，也是最近的一次。

Yet to score Woods-sized sponsorship deals, Guan currently wears apparel made by Ontario-based Sligo Wear Inc. The brand, known for its aggressive use of color, also outfits PGA Tour regulars including Brian Gay, Russell Knox and Graham DeLaet.

關天朗還未能像伍茲一樣獲得大批贊助，目前他穿的是由安大略企業Sligo Wear Inc.生產的運動服。這個品牌以其大膽用色而出名，併爲布賴恩·蓋伊(Brian Gay)、拉塞爾·諾克斯(Russell Knox)和格雷厄姆·德萊特(Graham DeLaet)等職業高爾夫球賽常客供應服裝。

This isn't the first time Guan has set a record. Earlier this year, at age 13, he became the youngest player to take part in a European PGA Tour event when he teed off at the Volvo China Open in Tianjin. In 2011, he took out the 11-12 division at the San Diego Junior World Golf Championships, six years after he placed fourth in the 6-and-under division. The right-hander reportedly swung his first club at age four.

這已經不是關天朗首次創下紀錄。今年早些時候，13歲的關天朗在天津的沃爾沃中國公開賽(Volvo China Open)上開球，成爲參加歐洲職業高爾夫球巡迴賽(European PGA Tour)的最年輕選手。2011年，他參加了舊金山世界青少年高爾夫錦標賽(Callaway Junior World Golf Championships)11歲至12歲年齡組的比賽，而六年前，他在六歲以下年齡組的比賽中獲得第四名。據報道，習慣用右手的關天朗第一次揮杆是在四歲時。

Guan's success follows that of compatriot Andy Zhang, who in June came through qualifying to become the youngest-ever U.S. Open competitor at the age of 14.

在關天朗之前，14歲的中國選手張華創(Andy Zhang)於今年6月通過資格賽，成爲史上最年輕的美國公開賽參賽者。

That same month, Feng Shanshan won the women's Wegmans LPGA Championship title in New York, becoming the first Chinese player to win a major tour event and title, at age 22.

同月，22歲的馮姍姍在紐約贏得維格曼斯女子高爾夫球賽(Wegmans LPGA Championship)冠軍，成爲首位在高爾夫大滿貫賽事中奪冠的中國選手。