Teen Andy Zhang tees off into Open history

FOURTEEN-year-old Andy Zhang became the youngest person to tee off at a US Open today - and after just two holes it showed.

Beau Hossler

FOURTEEN-year-old Andy Zhang became the youngest person to tee off at a US Open today - and after just two holes it showed.

Zhang, born in Beijing but raised in Florida, started with a triple bogey and followed up with a double. Two holes, five over.

Three holes later he was eight over the card, with consecutive bogeys - but then he settled, carding a birdy at the seventh hole.

Zhang, who was the fifth reserve and only got a start when Paul Casey withdrew through injury, finished with a nine-over 79.

But that score wasn't as bad as it looked after Masters champion Bubba Watson carded a 78.

"It was really tough," Zhang said. "On the first tee I was like, just please don't hit a 100-yard slice off the first tee, and I was shaking really hard. But I hit a great shot.

"After that I didn't hit the ball quite well, but my putting was OK. The course is really tough. So I'm actually OK with what I shot today. At least I broke 80.

"I shot eight over in the first five holes, and then I made that par and then kind of got like a start, knew how to play golf a little bit after that.

"I think I kept myself pretty calm and I'm really proud of myself actually. Well I shouldn't say proud, but I'm really happy to be here and honoured."

Beau Hossler

The picture was very different for another teenage amateur, 17-year-old Beau Hossler (above) from San Diego, who finished with an even-par 70, just one stroke back from Tiger Woods.

Asked if he had been surprised by the way he had performed on such a big stage, Hossler replied: "Not at all.

"I've been playing really well lately. I expected myself to go out there and get a lot out of my round. I still left a few out there but you have to accept that, it's the US Open it's going to happen."