Zhang, 14, savors spot in U.S. Open
SAN FRANCISCO — It’s already been a pretty good week for golf in China.
First, Shanshan Feng won the Wegmans LPGA Championship on Sunday in Pittsford, N.Y., the first major won by any player from mainland China. Monday, all the way across the USA, 14-year-old Andy Zhang of China got a spot in the U.S. Open at Olympic Club. Paul Casey withdrew, paving the way for Zhang to be what officials believe will be the youngest player in championship history.
Zhang, 6-0, 174 pounds, has been part of the IMG Leadbetter Academy in Florida and is based in the Orlando area.
Zhang, who moved to the USA when he was 10, was the first alternate out of sectional qualifying June 4 after he posted scores of 70-72 at Black Diamond in Lecanto, Fla.
Zhang was in San Francisco when he heard the news. He quickly found playing partners for a practice round Tuesday — Masters champion Bubba Watson and Aaron Baddeley.
The three teed off at No. 9 at 7 a.m. Hitting third, Zhang hit his first tee shot with a driver far to the right. He sheepishly went to pick up his tee, then looked over to Watson and asked, “Can I hit another?” Watson and Baddeley immediately said yes.
“They were really nice to me, giving me tips,” Zhang said. “It is a pretty challenging course. I’ve never seen that kind of rough in Florida.”
Zhang got another thrill when he met one of his favorite golfers. “I am a huge Tiger fan,” he said. “I grew up watching him on TV. This morning I shook his hand, and I said, ‘Wow, I just shook Tiger’s hand.’ ”
Asked whether 14 is too young to be in the U.S. Open, Woods responded, “You’re not too young if you can go out and do it. He earned it.”
Zhang will play with Hiroyuki Fujita of Japan and Mark Wilson of the USA in Rounds 1 and 2, teeing off at 11:21 a.m. ET Thursday (off No. 1) and 4:36 p.m. (off No. 9) Friday.