Tiger Woods could soon find a cub biting at his heels after a 13-year-old Korean boy became the youngest ever male player to qualify for an open professional golf tournament. Jae An will join Woods in the 144-strong field for the NZ$1 million Open after winning a qualifying tournament. An and his family moved to New Zealand three years ago to aid his blossoming golf career and the teenager is thrilled to have the chance to play against the world number one and star attraction at Paraparaumu Beach this weekend.
"This is the biggest day of my golfing career so far," said An, who also admitted that he would be somewhat daunted if drawn in the same group as Woods. "I would really like to play alongside Tiger but I would be put off," he explained.
Woods, who played as an amateur in his first professional tournament when he was 16, said it would be a moment to savour for An. "These guys who have played out here have gone through a lot of different experiences which as a kid you've never experienced before, and it's neat to be able to pick their brains," he said.
Although An may be the youngest male player to ever play in a national championship, he is not the youngest player ever, as Beverly Klass was 10 years old when she qualified for the US Women's Open while Morgan Pressel was 12 years old when she qualified for the same event.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
