( CNN ) -- Most 13-year-old boys would be happy to win their local golf club 's junior tournament . But Guan Tian-Lang is n't like other boys . The Chinese prodigy is set to make history this week when he smashes the record for the youngest player in a European Tour event . On Thursday , the world junior champion will tee off at the Volvo China Open at the tender age of just 13 years and 177 days , shattering the record set by Taiwan 's Lo Shih-Kai -- who was 103 days older when he played at the 2003 Hong Kong Open . Guan narrowly missed out in a qualifying event three weeks ago , but a last-minute clearance by the China Golf Association has given the Guangzhou schoolboy the chance join his heroes at Tianjin Binhai Lake Golf Club in an event co-sanctioned with the OneAsia Tour . He will join an elite 156-man field including Ian Poulter , who finished seventh at this month 's U.S. Masters , and the Englishman 's fellow Ryder Cup star Paul Casey -- both former top-10 ranked players . `` I really could n't be happier -- I 'm so excited right now , '' Guan said on the European Tour website . `` I was really disappointed to lose out in the playoff and I thought I 'd blown a great chance to make history , but then to find out I 'm actually going to play is like a dream come true . '' But the talented teen is n't just happy to play -- he wants to create more history by making the halfway cut . His compatriot Jason Hak was 14 years and 304 days old when he did so at the 2008 Hong Kong Open . `` My goal now is to be the youngest player ever to make the cut in a European Tour event , and I think if I can shoot level par or better I 'll have a good chance to do that , '' Guan said . Guan is also aiming to qualify for the U.S. Open in July , but insists his success on the course has not hampered his studies -- in fact , he 's one of the top pupils in his class . `` I do n't take schoolwork with me when I travel -- I just work very hard when I 'm at school in Guangzhou , '' he said . `` Actually I 'm doing pretty well right now and my grades are high . My favorite subjects are English and PE . '' Guan , who started playing golf as a four-year-old , claimed the world junior crown last year in San Diego by 11 shots on the back of a flawless first-round 63 , featuring nine birdies . He is now tipped to also become the youngest player to ever compete in the Australian Masters in November and Australian Open in December . If he does play Down Under , he may have the chance to follow in the footsteps of New Zealand 's Lydia Ko , who at the age of 14 this year became the youngest professional winner at a women 's tournament in New South Wales . Japan 's Ryo Ishikawa previously held the record when he won on the Japan Tour in 2007 , aged 15 . `` Anyone who has seen Guan play would not rule him out from making the cut -- he really is a talented young player . He displays a maturity well beyond his 13 years and does n't seem fazed by spectators or the intrusive nature of the media , '' China Open operations director Alistair Polson said . `` Being a local player I expect he will receive a lot of media attention so I hope he does well and gives the fans something to cheer about . ''
China 's Guan Tian-Lang , 13 , will be the youngest ever player in a European Tour event . The Guangzhou schoolboy will break record at Volvo China Open , aged 13 years , 177 days . World junior champion keen to make the cut in China and qualify for the U.S. Open in July . Child prodigy is also one of the top pupils in his class .