There's something spectacular going on at Augusta this week. 
 
 A 14-year-old from China named Tianlang Guan—known as "Langly" to his friends—is going to try to make the cut and compete with the best golfers in the world at the Masters. 
 
 Guan is the youngest ever to play in the legendary tournament. 
 
 The idea of such a young golfer having a chance in the prestigious Augusta National Golf Club seems like somebody's dream. As happens in sports on occasion, it does not appear to have anything to do with reality. 
 
 But that's when the prodigy factor takes over. That's exactly what Guan is. 
 
 He may be young, but Guan—who learned the game from his father when he was four years old—has the game of a practiced master, and that's why he is in Augusta, playing the Masters. 
 
 How He Got Here 
 
 How does a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Guangzhou, China, make his way to the Masters? He won the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship last fall. He was the youngest competitor in that 120-player field and basically led from start to finish. 
 
 His performance surprised everybody but himself, as he told Golf Digest: 
 
 I set a target to get the ticket for the Masters by winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. I thought I'd have a probability of one-third to win—I knew my opponents. Maybe it's a surprise for you, but for me, it was my expectation. 
 
 The winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur earns an invitation to Augusta. 
 
 Prior to earning that ticket, the youngest player to compete at the Masters was Italy's 16-year-old Matteo Manassero, who played in 2010. 
 
 Guan's Game 
 
 The young Asian player is not going to wow the crowd with his distance off the tee. That's probably the least impressive part of his game. 
 
 Guan is 5'4" and about 145 pounds. He will hit the ball from 240 to 250 yards off the tee. That means some of his competitors will outdrive him by 50 to 60 yards on a regular basis. 
 
 Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images 
 
 None of this bothers Guan in the least. That's because he has the touch of superb player on his shorter shots. He excels with his medium and short irons and uses his belly putter with an expert touch. 
 
 Tiger on playing with Guan Tianlang: "He asked me a lot about my swing and my game... I asked him what classes he was taking." #Masters — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 9, 2013 
 
 He relies on accuracy and touch rather than strength and distance. He knows he can't reach the green on some shots the way his competitors can. 
 
 "That's OK," Guan told Golf Digest. "I'm accustomed to that. I play best from 40 to 50 yards." 
 
 Off the Course 
 
 Guan is the equivalent of a middle school student in Guangzhou, and he frequently visits to the United States. His annual family trips to the West Coast have put him in contact with American students, and he wishes his school day ended at 2 p.m., instead of 5 or 6 p.m. 
 
 Guan started his golf career at a very early age, but he was also exposed to drawing, taekwondo and penmanship. He grew tired of all of these activities—except golf. 
 
 Guan enjoys his native Cantonese food, but he is not afraid to eat American foods, which he enjoys when he is in the United States. Specifically, a hamburger for lunch is one of his favorites (h/t Golf Digest). 
 
 What a great experience yesterday... Playing with Tiger and Tianlang Guan, the young Chinese star!! What a talent he is going to be!! — Dustin Johnson (@DJohnsonPGA) April 9, 2013 
 
 When Guan is not on the golf course, he likes other sports. Basketball is his favorite, and Kobe Bryant is his favorite player. Guan told Golf Digest that he'd love to play a round of golf with Bryant. 
 
 He is a thoughtful youngster whom adults in and out of the golf world have described as friendly. Instead of giving one-syllable or one-word answers, Guan will have actual conversations, a ready smile and a courteous personality. 
 
 Guan's personality is almost as surprising as his golf game. 
 
 Recognition 
 
 Guan is now in the golf annals with one of the great figures in the sport's history. He is the second-youngest player to participate in a golf major. 
 
 If you go back to 1860—yes, the same year Abraham Lincoln was elected president—young Tom Morris competed in the The Open Championship (British Open). Morris was one month younger than Guan, who is officially listed at 14 years, six months. 
 
 David Cannon/Getty Images Ben Crenshaw advised Guan to enjoy his time at the Masters. 
 
 Guan's youth means he has the curiosity factor, but that's not all he brings to the course. He has played practice rounds with Tiger Woods, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo and Ben Crenshaw. The latter three all played with him at Augusta. 
 
 The best golfers in the world wanted to see what made this youngster tick. 
 
 Crenshaw left Guan with the advice to enjoy himself and not to fall victim to the pressure. Guan said he is going to try and follow Crenshaw's advice. 
 
 "I think it's going to be a little pressure to me, but I'm not going to push myself too hard," Guan told Golf Digest (via Yahoo! Sports), "and I'm trying to just enjoy my game, play my best, and hopefully play some good scores." ||||| Honorary starter Arnold Palmer punches the air after hitting off the first tee before the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 11, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (Associated Press) 
 
 David Lynn, of England, hits out of the rough off the 15th fairway during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 11, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (Associated Press) 
 
 From left, honorary starters Gary Player, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus chat after hitting on the first tee during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 11, 2013, in Augusta,... (Associated Press) 
 
 Tiger Woods waits to hit off the first fairway during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 11, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) (Associated Press) 
 
 David Lynn, of England, tees off at the 15th hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 11, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (Associated Press) 
 
 Marc Leishman, of Australia, hits out of a bunker on the 17th fairway during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 11, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (Associated Press) 
 
 Tiger Woods hits off the fourth fairway during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 11, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) (Associated Press) 
 
 Tiger Woods watches his putt on the fourth green during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 11, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (Associated Press) 
 
 Marc Leishman, of Australia, raises his cap before putting on the 17th green during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 11, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (Associated Press) ||||| The 14-year-old Guan not only became the youngest player in Masters history on Thursday, he played pretty well while doing it. 
 
 Tianlang Guan made history on Thursday when at 14, he became the youngest player to play in the Masters. That record would have been his regardless of how he played in the first round, but for good measure, he turned in the round of his life. 
 
 More: Complete 2013 Masters coverage 
 
 Guan shot a 1-over 73 on Thursday, not only making him the low amateur of the first round, but also placing him ahead of several notable names. Tied for 46th, Guan is ahead of defending Masters champion Bubba Watson, Ian Poulter and several others. Guan, who qualified for the event by winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, started out his round with a bogey, but quickly rebounded. 
 
 A birdie on No. 3 got him back to even par before two bogeys left him at 2-over at the turn. It was an eventful back nine for Guan as he traded good and bad holes. He started off well with a birdie at No. 10 before dropping a stroke at No. 11. He followed a birdie at No. 13 with another bogey at No. 14. 
 
 He entered 18 at 2-over and after hitting his approach shot to the fringe of the green, he was in position to two-putt and close out his round at an impressive 2-over. Instead, he finished his round with an exclamation point, by sinking the lengthy putt from the fringe. The performance was impressive enough to draw applause from Guan's playing partner and two-time Masters winner Ben Crenshaw. 
 
 More Masters from SB Nation: 
 
 • Does Tiger need a green jacket to be "back"? 
 
 • Cute kid gifs, holes-in-one highlight Par 3 Contest 
 
 • Arnold Palmer is still cooler than you 
 
 • Masters picks and predictions 
 
 • How all 94 players earned entry into the most exclusive major in golf 
 
 • Bubba breaks down at his Masters press conference
– The first round of the Masters is in the books, with Australia's Marc Leishman and Spain's Sergio Garcia tied for the lead at 6-under, reports AP. But the big story line of Tiger Woods is very much alive—he's just four shots off the lead. Meanwhile, 14-year-old sensation Guan Tianlang of China became the youngest golf ever to compete at the Masters, and he didn't disappoint. He drained a long birdie putt on the 18th to finish 1-over—the best score of any amateur competing, reports SBNation. Guan is known for a superb short game, notes Bleacher Report, which has a profile.