Guan Tianlang was treated to a truly special day, in so many ways, at the iconic Augusta National Golf Club on Wednesday.
He got the privilege of playing in the annual par-three contest with three-time US Masters winner Nick Faldo and 2009 champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina.
But he was also given the unique opportunity, along with his father, Guan Hanwen, and mother, Jenny Liu, to meet Jack Nicklaus at length in the morning and get The Golden Bear's advice on not only competing in his first Masters as an unprecedented 14-year-old but also some life lessons.
On Masters Tuesday, Nicklaus mentioned he was impressed Guan had reached out to him and his manager to meet during this august week in Georgia.
"Fourteen years old. I thought that was pretty sharp," Nicklaus said of Guan's initiative.
The tryst apparently went well.
"It was a nice meeting," Nicklaus said. "He's a nice young man. It was about life, and education and how to help him with his life and where he is going."
An incredible opportunity for young Guan to hear from not only the most successful major champion in golf's history, but also a family-centered 73-year-old grandfather of 22.
"What he did was ask me questions politely and I answered them," Nicklaus told China Daily. "He's going to be a nice gentleman."
Regarding Guan and how he might take on the golf course in this phenomenal opportunity, Nicklaus was candid.
"It's going to take him a few times to really learn the golf course," the winner of 18 major titles, including six Masters, said.
WWII TV dramas border on the ridiculous
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