Golf Digest Search Results

Golf's Biggest Phenoms

Alex Myers — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

We take a look at some of the most talented youngsters to ever burst onto the scene.

Social media, golfers' response to Tianlang Guan's slow-play penalty

Steve Hennessey — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:55:00 GMT

By Stephen Hennessey Slow play is agreed to be one of golf's biggest issues, on both professional and amateur golf. But when 14-year-old Tianlang Guan, was assessed a one-shot, slow-play penalty on the 17th...

Tianlang Guan receives rare slow-play penalty

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:09:00 GMT

By Sam Weinman

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The heartwarming story of a 14 year old playing in the Masters took a harsh turn Friday when Chinese phenom Tianlang Guan was assessed a slow-play penalty on the 17th hole, nearly jeopardizing the teenager's chances of playing the weekend at Augusta National.

According to a statement from the club, Guan's group was first put on the clock by rules official John Paramor on the 10th hole, then was assessed the penalty after a slow time hitting his second shot on the par-4 17th hole.

Guan was two over for his round and thought he made a par on 17. Instead, the slow-penalty stroke gave him a bogey, and he signed for a three-over 75. At four over through 36 holes, Guan slid into the weekend because he was within 10 shots of leader Jason Day.

According to playing partner Crenshaw, Guan was one of several players to struggle with the swirling wind. In the club's statement,Guan was given the penalty when exceeded the 40-second time limit on his second shot by a "considerable margin."

"This isn't going to wind up pretty, I don't think," Crenshaw said. "I'm sick. I'm sick for him. He's 14 years old. We're playing -- when you get the wind blowing out here, believe me, you're going to change your mind a lot...I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry this happened."

Guan is the first player to be penalized for slow play at a major since the 2010 PGA. There are no records of a slow-play penalty ever assessed at the Masters.

In an interview with ESPN, Guan said, "I respect the decision. This is what they can do."

Paramor, the head of rules for the European Tour, has been involved in other high-profile rulings in the past, most notably in 2009, when in the final round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, he put Padraig Harrington on the clock when Harrington was immersed in a final-round duel with Tiger Woods.The incident disrupted Harrington's momentum, and Woods went on to win.

"Like I was telling [Harrington] out there, 'I'm sorry that John got in the way of a great battle,' because it was such a great battle for 16 holes," Woods said at the time. "And unfortunately, that happened."

Follow @samweinman

Youth will be served at Augusta as Tianlang Guan is set to make history

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 19:18:00 GMT

By Bill Fields

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- A practice round with Ben Crenshaw today. A practice round with Tom Watson tomorrow. A round in the Par-3 Contest with Nick Faldo the day after that. Life is good for Tianlang Guan, the first-time participant in the 77th Masters.

Those green-jacket owners are old enough to be the Chinese golfer's grandfather.

What were you doing when you were 14?

Guan, who won the 2012 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship to earn his berth as the youngest golfer to play in the Masters (by two years, over Italy's Matteo Manassero, who was 16 when he competed in 2010), is working on his English as well as his golf. He was in the interview room at Augusta National Monday afternoon, flanked by azaleas, member-moderator Rob Johnston and an interpreter (who only had to hit a couple of shots).

Crenshaw, once a prodigy himself, told Guan to "just enjoy my game."

He is going to try.

"I think it's going to be a little pressure to me, but I'm not going to push myself too hard," said Guan, "and I'm trying to just enjoy my game, play my best, and hopefully play some good scores."

Guan was born 18 months after Tiger Woods won the 1997 Masters. He has already played in Asia with the 14-time major champion, who inspired him to get serious about golf. "I was probably 3 or 4 years old, I was looking at him win the Masters, and it's pretty exciting to watch him," Guan said. "I played with him twice the past couple of years, and he gives me many advice and I will say every time I play with him, I feel a lot better and give myself some confidence."

Related: That kid at the driving range

His performance might be affected his youth or his inexperience, but he should have adequated local knowledge, having played Augusta National "six, seven times" by Monday. He has a strong short game, and he will need it. "I've still got to practice hard here because [these greens are] pretty tough, and it's not the same in China," Guan said.

He'll sleep in the club's Crow's Nest Monday night, perhaps dreaming in two languages about the days ahead.

There will be a lot to enjoy.

Follow @BillFields1
[Photo: Don Emmert/Getty Images]

America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses: By Architect

GolfDigest.com — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

We rank the designers with the most golf courses on our list of the Country's best.

Mike Keiser's going forward with Cabot Cliffs, built by Coore and Crenshaw

Matt Ginella — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 23:37:00 GMT

Mike Keiser made it official on a flight from Nova Scotia to Chicago last Thursday: There will be a second course at Cabot Links, the Cape Breton Island resort he co-owns with Ben Cowan-Dewar, and...

One Course/Two Perspectives: Bandon Preserve

Matt Ginella and Ron Whitten — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Two views of Bandon Dunes' new short course, Bandon Preserve.

The Skinny on Streamsong

Matt Ginella — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:15:00 GMT

Flying in the face of a fragile economy and a shrinking golf industry, the idea of a new Florida golf resort seems silly. But after a recent tour of Streamsong, and hearing the business strategy,...

Saturday stats: Hanson-Mickelson unbeatable

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 03:03:00 GMT

(Paul Lawrie has the lowest world-ranking among the top-10 competitors at The Masters. Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Nine notable third-round Masters stats from Golf World contributing writer Brett Avery, who compiles the Rank and File statistical sections for the magazine's major championship coverage.

1. World rankings of the contenders: Peter Hanson 25th, Phil Mickelson 14th, Louis Oosthuizen 27th, Bubba Watson 16th, Matt Kuchar 18th, Hunter Mahan fourth, Padraig Harrington 96th, Henrik Stenson 171st, Lee Westwood third, Paul Lawrie 186th.

Notes & Best of Booth Babes from the PGA Show

Matt Ginella — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:34:00 GMT

Yes, I had a good show.Back from my second PGA Show in Orlando, it's not unlike most conventions: meetings, meals and martinis. There were no beverage cart girls, but I did make a few minutes...