By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM
The summer of Guan Tianlang continues.
The 14-year-old Chinese amateur has accepted a sponsor exemption into the FedEx St. Jude Classic, the tournament announced on Wednesday.
"Guan's invitation was a no-brainer," said tournament director Phil Cannon. “He certainly has made a big splash in the sports world. And we are excited our fans will get to witness history. It's remarkable that he did not have a three-putt green in 72 holes at Augusta."
Guan, who was the youngest player to participate in the Masters before finishing as the low amateur at Augusta National, is also in the field for next week's Memorial tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance.
The FedEx St. Jude Classic will be his fourth event on a sponsor exemption. As a non-member of the PGA TOUR, he is allowed to accept up to seven sponsor exemptions.
Guan earned his spot in the Masters by winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.
In his two starts since the Masters, Guan finished 71st in New Orleans and missed the cut last week in Dallas.
Dustin Johnson showed no signs of rust Sunday as he won the FedEx St. Jude Classic in just his second start since March. With his victory at TPC Southwind, the first of his 2012 season, Johnson: • Collects 500 FedExCup points and moves to No. 18 in the latest standings with 898 points. Jason Dufner remains atop the standings with 1,735 points.
• Extends his fully-exempt status through the 2015 season.
• Becomes the third player to win the FedEx St. Jude Classic in their first start since the event moved to TPC Southwind in 1989, joining Lee Westwood (2010) and Dicky Pride (1994).
• Is the first player since Tiger Woods (1996-2000) to go directly from college and win in each of his first five seasons on the PGA TOUR.
• Has won at least one PGA TOUR event in each of the last five seasons (2008-2012), the second-longest active streak of consecutive seasons with a victory behind only Phil Mickelson’s nine (2004-2012).
•Becomes the 13 th American to win the FedEx St .Jude Classic in the last 14 years (Lee Westwood, 2010).
This victory is Johnson's sixth in 109 career starts. Here's a list of Johnson's PGA TOUR victories:
2008: Turning Stone Resort Championship
2009: AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
2010: AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, BMW
Championship
2011: The Barclays
2012: FedEx St. Jude Classic
By Fred Albers, PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Athlete: There are not many players
who can miss more than two months of competition with a
back injury and win in their second tournament back on the
PGA TOUR. That's a tribute to Dustin Johnson's
athleticism. There might not be a person with more athletic
ability on TOUR. Johnson routinely hits 3 wood in
excess of 300 yards but it was his touch around the green
that was critical on Sunday. He got up and down from 21
yards for birdie on the 16th and then rolled home a putt of
8 feet, 9 inches for birdie at the 17th to take the lead.
The fact Johnson could execute both mentally and physically
down the stretch, after missing two months of golf, is
remarkable.
Safe to say, Dustin Johnson is back. After a three-month layoff due to injury, he picked up a win in his second start back at the FedEx St. Jude Classic. This is his sixth PGA TOUR title.
Want to congratulate Johnson on his win? Leave a note below and we’ll deliver it to him.
LEADERBOARD: FedEx St. Jude Classic | Shot Tracker | Projected FedExCup points
There are dozens of players with a realistic shot at victory Sunday at TPC Southwind. It's one of the toughest courses on TOUR, but someone can always go low, get in the clubhouse, and steal this event.
The field is off on split tees, with the field finishing in the early afternoon.
The day is ripe with stories. Nick O'Hern and John Merrick, who share the lead with Davis Love III at 6 under, have never won. Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson are only one back. Obviously, McIlroy is trying to win the week before his U.S. Open defense, and Johnson is making just his second start since injuring his back this spring.
Even Dustin Morris, a Monday qualifier from Colorado State, is only three back.
So what do you think? Your comments are welcome in the space below, but be please, be nice.
Davis Love III, a 20-time PGA TOUR winner, shoots for his first win since 2008 at the FedEx St. Jude Classic.
CBS golf analyst Ian Baker-Finch takes a look at Rory McIlroy's golf swing in slow motion.