Guan Tianlang may have made history at the Masters, but his status as the youngest player in European Tour history has disappeared in the Volvo China Open.
Guan made the cut at Augusta National aged just 14, despite being penalised for slow play in the second round, and also played all four rounds in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans last week.
He was just 13 years and 177 days old when he played in the Volvo China Open last year, but 12 months on his compatriot Ye Wo-cheng has replaced him in the record books when he tees off at Binhai Lake Golf Club in Tianjin.
He was 12 years and 242 days old when he played his first round alongside Spain’s Jose Manuel Lara and Australian Scott Strange.
Ye was joined in the field by 15-year-old Bai Zheng-kai and 16-year-old Dou Ze-cheng, and at a combined age of 43 the trio are a year younger than fellow competitor and former Open champion Paul Lawrie.
Ye and Dou earned their places in the field after coming through qualifying events, while Bai earned his starting berth courtesy of his victory in the Volvo China Junior Match Play Championship.
There are eight Scots in the field Lawrie, Peter Whiteford, Marc Warren, Scott Jamieson, Stephen Gallacher, Richie Ramsay, Scott Henry and Craig Lee.