The kid has cracked the Augusta weekend

Guan Tianlang didn’t let his tender age of 14 years, five months and 18 days affect his golf. He has a passport into the US Masters weekend.

And the youngest to do so. He will be in Butler’s Cabin as the leading amateur for the presentation of the coveted green jacket.

Tianlang shot 73 and 75. He finished four over, which was smack on the cut.

He had four birdies and eight bogeys in what veteran playing partner Ben Crenshaw described as a “very very impressive” display of ball-striking and patience for one so young.

Tianlang’s second round 75 included a stroke penalty for slow play, which was most likely Crenshaw’s fault, he’s renowned for taking his time – nicely called a deliberate golfer.

While the pencil thin kid from China held his nerve many heavyweights didn’t hold theirs and have headed for home, after missing the cut.

Guan’s playing partner Matteo Manessaro, the previous record-holder for the youngest to make the Masters cut at 16, missed by a shot.

Martin Laird, YE Yang, Webb Simpson, Graeme McDowell, Louis Oosterhuizen, Mark O’Meara, Ben Curtis, Mike Weir, Ian Poulter, Kevin Streetman, Padraig Harrington, Tom Watson, Hunter Mahan, Ian Woosnam, and Crenshaw who was 16 shots of Tianlang’s pace.

While Guan Tianlang was the story of the day, another Day pinched the lead at the half-way mark.

Aussie Jason Day shot 70 and 68 to be 6-under, with 12 birdies, four bogeys, and a double – and looking very solid.

Day and his three compatriots are all in the top 14 and in there with a big sniff to become the first Australian to don the green jacket in 77 attempts.

Marc Leishman is just a shot off the pace at five under after rounds of 66 73 that included nine birdies and four bogeys.

Adam Scott is three behind, with Tiger Woods.

Scott has fired 69 and 72 – three under – with seven birdies and four bogeys. Three of them came in a row at the start of his second round.

Woods scored 70 and 71 with six birdies and three bogeys.

The fourth Aussie John Senden is two under after rounds of 72 and 70 with 10 birdies and eight bogeys

Moving day tomorrow, Saturday at Augusta, it never fails to create the unexpected.

Footnote:

Guan Tianlang shot a third round 77 this morning, with five bogeys, That takes him to 9-over for the 54 holes.

As the only amateur to qualify for the weekend Guan will win the coveted Masters Silver Cup.

Some great golfers have held that Cup aloft as the leading amateur – Ben Crenshaw in 1972 and 1973, Phil Mickelson 1991, Tiger Woods 1995, Matt Kuchar 1998, Sergio Garcia 1999, and Hunter Mahan 2003.