Chinese Amateur Zhang Lights up Olympic
While Paul Casey's continuing shoulder injury and subsequent withdrawal from the year's second major was bad news for the 34-year-old Englishman, his absence enabled teenage amateur phenomenon Andy Zhang of China to become the youngest competitor at a US Open since the Second World War. Fourteen-year-old Zhang, who was born in Shandong province and attends school in Florida, broke the record previously held by Tadd Fujikawa by a year and impressed both the media and spectators at the Olympic Club with his game and humility. An opening 79 – which included a birdie at the 18th that brought one of the biggest cheers of the day – was followed by a 78 and a missed cut. But while there was moments of frustration, Zhang never got done.
"It has been one of the most exciting, unforgettable and unbelievable experiences," he said, noting encounters he had with such pros as Masters champion Bubba Watson, Aaron Baddeley – and especially three-time major winner Ernie Els.
"I've always looked up to him," the six-foot tall Zhang said. "I've always wanted to meet him and once I did, he's actually like really nice to me. He's kind of taken me on as a younger brother; it's just really nice."
The toughest part of Zhang's visit to San Francisco might have come after his first round, when a TV producer asked him to speak Mandarin in describing the experience.
"Do I have to?" Zhang pleaded. "Because I don't feel like my Chinese is as good as my English.”
