Andy Zhang: 14-Year-Old Is In The U.S. Open!
/Sam Weinman on how 14-year-old Andy Zhang learned that he would be the youngest U.S. Open participant following Paul Casey's injury-related WD Monday.
Zhang received his answer around 5 p.m., Monday, when the USGA's Jeff Hall called Zhang's trainer and caddie, Chris Gold, while the two were on the putting green.
"Jeff called and said, 'He can play if he wants,'" Gold said. "I said, 'What does that mean?' He said, 'He's in.'"
Withdrawals by Paul Casey (shoulder) and Brandt Snedeker (ribs) means Zhang will be the youngest contestant in the history of the Open. It means he now has access to a courtesy Lexus he isn't old enough to drive. And it explains why he wore a look on Monday evening that was somewhere between euphoria and disbelief.
Steve Elling did a super job tracking down Zhang's coach and tells us more about how the Chinese-born lad got here while talking to his Leadbetter Academy instructor, Andrew Park.
Zhang has been in the States since he was 10 and is already 6 feet tall, weighs 185 pounds and has a PGA Tour-level swing speed of 115 mph, Park said.
"Andy hits it miles and miles," Park said. "He's got a very good head on his shoulders. He couldn't speak any English when he got here, and now we can't keep him quiet. He is very outgoing."
Park said that Zhang has been playing in mini-tour events already in the Central Florida area, including the Moonlight Tour.
"He's actually been winning a bunch of those," Park said.
**More great stuff from Golfweek's Nick Masuda, who has more great background on Zhang's family and their role in his development.
Masuda was also there when Zhang got his locker (yes Andy, you get your own!) and when he learned of his practice round partners for Tuesday.
Now, he'll be teeing it up at 7 a.m. on Tuesday morning with Bubba Watson and Aaron Baddeley.
"Why not? You can play with whomever you want. Why not Bubba?" said Gold.
"Bubba is the Masters champ, I can't think of anyone better to play with," added Zhang.
