Li leads Chinese charge

Two years ago, 14-year-old Guan Tianlang made history by becoming the youngest golfer to make the cut at the Masters.

On Friday, before far fewer spectators, Guan completed his second round at the Volvo China Open at 3 over and will miss the weekend.

The Chinese golfer has had a quiet couple of years since his star turn at Augusta. He still makes a sartorial statement on the course - he wore neon pink and lime green pants this week in Shanghai - but he is no longer chased by crowds of fans or media. He is still developing his game at junior tournaments and going to school part-time.

"My results are not great in these couple of years, they could be better," he said. "But I feel like I'm more confident and my game is a lot better now."

It may be years before Guan gets another crack at the Masters but there are plenty of other young Chinese who are seeking their breakout moments. They are being groomed as future major and Olympic champions, the result of a serious investment of money and resources into developing the game at the junior level.

A major part of this effort was the opening in 2012 of the $80 million Nanshan national training center, where children as young as six learn how to strike the ball with drivers nearly as tall as them and the most talented teenagers spend their summers trying to take their games to the next level.

Li Haotong is one of the most exciting prospects to emerge in recent months.

Just 19, the lanky golfer from Hunan province ran off three victories on the PGA Tour of China last autumn to qualify for the US-based Web.com Tour, then nearly became the youngest winner in that tour's history, taking a one-stroke lead into the final round at his debut tournament in Panama before faltering.

"When I play in China, if I shoot 3 or 4 under, I feel kind of OK, but on the Web.com Tour, I have to try on every shot," Li said through a translator in Shanghai, where he was tied for fourth at 5 under after two rounds. "Even if I'm 3 or 4 under, I still have to play every hole like it's the last hole. That's the big difference."

His success has been an inspiration for his peers. Cao Yi is chasing a Web.com card and spending time training in Florida with his South African coach, Andrew Park. He will be at Nanshan this summer, too. Cao shot 72 on Thursday and missed the cut at 5 over.

Zhang Jin, 19, turned pro six months ago and is still trying to adapt to the pressure. He missed the cut in Shenzhen at 10 over but he has performed well in Shanghai, sitting in a tie for 15th at 2 under heading into the weekend.

He believes young Chinese have the fundamentals down but need to focus more on the mental aspect of the game.