Matsuyama says second win will boost China's Guan
Kuala Lumpur (AFP) - Japan's Hideki Matsuyama said Wednesday that Chinese teenager Guan Tianlang will gain a huge confidence boost this week if he manages to retain his Asia-Pacific amateur title.
Matsuyama, who won the amateur trophy in 2010 and 2011 and now has a world ranking of 29, said Guan would be under pressure -- but the experience would benefit him in the future.
"I did back-to-back wins, and the second time there was a lot of pressure on me," Matsuyama, 21, told AFP ahead of the $7 million CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur.
"I think he'll be in the same situation as me but he'll learn a lot from it and he'll gain confidence if he manages back-to-back wins.
"If he pulls it off it will be great for his confidence too. I think he needs that kind of experience and it will work in his favour in the future."
Guan was just 14 when he won last year's Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Thailand by a shot, earning a US Masters berth as the tournament's youngest-ever competitor.
The unflappable schoolboy then caused a stir at Augusta when he survived the cut -- despite a one-shot penalty for slow play -- and lifted the Silver Cup as the lowest-scoring amateur.
Guan, now 15, will take aim at a second Masters slot as he defends his amateur title on home soil in Nanshan, China. Matsuyama said he had a solid chance of taking the honours again.
"I haven't had a chance to play with him but as far as I saw and I heard, he has a good short game and if he keeps his game sharp I think he has a decent chance," he said.
