Beijing teenager Jin Cheng ready to fly the flag for China at Masters

China’s latest golf hope, Jin Cheng, tees off in the Masters on Thursday trying to emulate “close friend” Guan Tianlang, who impressed three years ago at Augusta National.

The 18-year-old from Beijing stamped his ticket for the year’s first major by winning last year’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, the same door taken by Guan.

He will be nearly four years older than Guan, who became the youngest-ever player at the Masters in 2013 at 14 years and five months, and even made the cut in what was an astonishing display of precociousness.

But Jin said on Monday that to match Guan’s achievement in playing at the weekend would be a tough challenge, going up against the best golfers in the world for the first time.

“We definitely talked a little bit ... and I’m close friends with him,” Jin said.

“Guan definitely played great when he was here, making the cut at 14. He’s definitely hard to beat. He’s like a legend, making the cut at 14. All I want to do this week is play my best and enjoy everything here.”

Jin, who recalls watching the Masters on television back home in China when he was growing up, has taken every opportunity to experience the real thing before his debut.