Guan penalised for slow play

Chinese teenager Guan Tianlang, already making history as the youngest player in Masters history, today made more controversial headlines after being penalised for slow play.

Guan was given a one-shot penalty by rules official John Paramor, the European Tour’s chief referee, on the 17th hole after previously being warned that he was taking too long over his shots.

That meant his par on the 17th became a bogey five and a round of 75, but the 14-year-old’s four-over total of 148 remained on course to make the halfway cut, either thanks to being inside the top 50 or within 10 shots of the leader.

Playing partner Ben Crenshaw said: “This is not going to end pretty. I’m sick for him. I feel terrible. He is 14 years old. I’m so sorry this has happened.”

Crenshaw, who had also played a practice round with Guan on Monday, added: “The way I understand it, he was warned after he walked off the 16th. He had obviously the most diabolical putt you could face and he made a brilliant two-putt.

“I’m going to say this; anybody would take time in order to get up and hit that putt. That’s number one. And then number two, I think our group was warned maybe once that maybe we were out of position. And that was on the front nine.

“So then we kept on going. But on 16, that was apparently the first he was warned and then the violation apparently came on the second shot at 17.

“When you get the wind blowing out here, believe me, you’re going to change your mind a lot. It is not easy to get around this golf course the way it’s set up for two days.

“There’s no question he played slowly at times. But he was working things out. The rule’s 45 seconds and it’s pretty difficult for somebody to do that in a tournament like this with conditions the way they are.

“It’s going to happen, but I’m really sorry. This is not pretty.”

Italy’s Matteo Manassero, who had been the previous youngest player at 16 and was also playing with Guan, admitted the teenager had been slow.

“I think it’s the biggest thing he needs to be careful about, because I think he’s ready,” Manassero said.

“When the caddie pulls the club for him, I think he’s ready. But most of the times that he takes a little too long he just asks questions that I think he knows, but just to be sure, just to be clear in his mind.

“We all feel sorry, but this is the way professional golf goes. This will end up being a great experience for him.

“We all hope he’s going to make the cut, but this certainly will be a very valuable lesson. He will never forget it for sure, and he will learn from it.”

Guan said: ``I respect the decision. This is what they can do.''

Asked how it would affect his experience of the Masters if he missed the cut by one shot, he added: “It’s still a wonderful experience for me. I have the two days so far and I think I did a pretty good job.”

The rules state that players will be told when they are out of position on the course, then advised they are being put on the clock and if they subsequently receive two “bad times”, are liable to be penalised.

Guan was warned on the 10th, started being timed on the 12th and then took too long over his second shot to the 13th and approach to the 17th.

Paramor said: “I feel like that in those situations, any time they happen, that’s my job. That is what I do.”

Asked if Guan’s age affected his decision, Paramor added: “No, because it is the Masters.”

Tournament organisers confirmed Guan's penalty in an official statement in which they said he had ``exceeded the 40 second time limit by a considerable margin''.

Ryder Cup winning captain Colin Montgomerie was, however, highly critical of the decision.

Montgomerie, commentating on the Masters for Sky Sports, said: “It surprises me it’s been done to the weakest and easiest target out here and I must admit common sense did not prevail in that action.”

Guan also spoke to Sky revealing that he had been handed his penalty after the windy conditions today prompted him to take time over his club selection on the 17th.

“We had some rain early in the round and the wind switched a lot and it goes hard. I just had to make that decision, I switched my club,” he said.

“Unfortunately it is my second bad time.”

The Chinese admitted the decision had played on his mind as he then missed a putt after reaching the penultimate green.

“It did effect me a little bit on the putt on the 17th and I didn’t make it. It was still ok,” he said.

“On the 18th I did pretty good to save the par.”