( CNN ) -- Chinese amateur golfer Guan Tianlang was not even born when Tiger Woods won the Masters for the first time in 1997 . Guan will become the youngest player in Masters history when he tees off on Thursday , eclipsing the mark set by Italy 's Matteo Manassero in 2010 . And on Monday , the Chinese teenager -- aged 14 years , five months and 14 days -- was given a helping hand by Woods after the 14-time major winner invited Guan to take in the back nine of the fabled Augusta course . Guan qualified for the year 's first major by winning November 's Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship , an event designed specifically to unearth global talent . It was the third time the teenager had played with world No . 1 Woods , with the pair joined on their Monday practice round by big-hitting American Dustin Johnson . `` He gives me advice and I will say every time I play with him I feel a lot better and give myself confidence , '' Guan told the PGA Tour 's official website . `` I 'm not going to push myself too hard . I 'm trying to just enjoy my game , play my best and hopefully play a good score . '' Woods , who goes into this weekend 's tournament as favorite to clinch a fifth Masters crown , is pleased his legacy has helped created a new generation of players . Opinion : For Tiger , winning does take care of everything . `` It 's frightening to think that he was born after I won my first Masters , '' the 37-year-old said after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational a few weeks ago . `` It 's exciting that I 've inspired kids to play and not just here in the States , but obviously in China and around the world . '' At the other end of the age scale , Northern Irishman Darren Clarke , aged 44 , was hoping to take part in his 12th Masters . But the 2011 British Open champion has been forced to withdraw with the same hamstring injury which kept him out of last week 's Valero Texas Open . Clarke was one of Jose Maria Olazabal 's vice captains when he led Europe to a stunning Ryder Cup victory against the United States at Medinah in September . Meanwhile Spain 's Olazabal , a two-time champion at Augusta , hit a wayward drive during the first day of practice which left a male spectator with blood pouring from his head . Olazabal , the last European to wear the green jacket , immediately apologized and offered the stricken fan a signed glove . Woods back on top of the world .
Chinese amateur Zhang Tianlang brings back nine of Augusta with Tiger Woods . Guan to become the youngest champion in Masters history when play begins on Thursday . 2011 British Open champion Darren Morgan forced to withdraw due to a hamstring injury . José Maria Olazabal apologizes to fan after hitting him in the head with a wayward shot .