China's Guan Tianlang is the youngest competitor -- at age 14 years and 5 months -- in the 80 years of The Masters, beating the previous record held by then 16-year-old Matteo Manassero.
(CNN) -- Chinese golf prodigy Guan Tianlang will have another chance to shine at a top professional tournament after being invited to play in a PGA Tour event in New Orleans next week.
The 14-year-old stunned the sporting world at last week's Masters when he not only made the halfway cut as the youngest player to ever enter the prestigious major, but also finished as the leading amateur.
He will line up at the Zurich Classic, whose title sponsor was also involved with the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship he won last year to qualify for Augusta.
"Guan's victory in Thailand in November and his historic achievement last week at Augusta National Golf Club are truly remarkable. We are excited to have him join us," Zurich CEO Martin Senn said Thursday.
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The tournament, won last year by Jason Dufner, is hosted by the Fore!Kids Foundation, which has raised almost $23 million for children since its inception in 1958.
"Guan represents the aspirations of millions of young golfers and golf fans of all ages worldwide," its CEO Steve Worthy said.
Dufner, who claimed the $1.15 million first prize last year when he beat Ernie Els in a playoff, is expected to defend his title in a field also including the South African, 2011 winner Bubba Watson, fellow major champion Keegan Bradley and world No. 3 Justin Rose.
Read: Guan gives taste of China's golfing ambition
Meanwhile, Sergio Garcia was off the pace after making a quick trans-Atlantic crossing to appear at his home Spanish Open.
The world No. 13, who tied for eighth at Augusta, was four shots behind the leaders after shooting par 72 in Thursday's opening round.
Compatriot Miguel Angel Jimenez, making his comeback after breaking a leg skiing last year, was in a tie for 112th after carding a rusty 76, to be in a group including former European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal.
Veteran Chilean Felipe Aguilar shared the lead with 21-year-old Frenchman Gary Stal and Denmark's Morten Orum Madsen after they all shot 68.
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In 1865, Britain's "Young" Tom Morris set the threshold for youngest player in a major by entering the British Open at 14 years and 4 months. Three years later, the teenager won that tournament by edging out his dad, "Old" Tom Morris. Pictured circa 1873, "Young" Morris wears the British Open belt, which he won four times.
Michelle Wie of Honolulu made her mark on women's golf in 2000 by qualifying for a USGA amateur championship. She was 10 at the time and could already drive the ball almost 300 yards. At 13, she became the youngest golfer to make the cut at an LPGA event.
At 16 years and 237 days old, Leicester player George Ford became the youngest professional rugby union player.
American tennis player Michael Chang won the French Open in 1989 at age 17, becoming the youngest male winner of a Grand Slam singles event.
Madison Keys, right, next to Venus Williams, at age 14 became one of the youngest players to win a Women's Tennis Association tour match in 2009 when she beat Serena Williams.
Long before she was one of the most recognizable figures in women's soccer, Mia Hamm was a youth soccer player in Texas and Virginia. After catching coach Anson Dorrance's eye, she was picked for the national team and in 1987 became the youngest American woman, at 15, to take the field for a World Cup. Before retiring in 2004, she racked up four NCAA championships, two World Cup championships and two Olympic gold medals.
In 2004, at age 14, Freddy Adu became the youngest athlete to appear in a Major League Soccer game. Two weeks after his first appearance, Adu became the youngest athlete to score a goal in MLS.
At age 13, Dot Richardson became the youngest woman to play in an Amateur Softball Association of America Women's Major Fast Pitch National Championship.
In 1944, when most able-bodied American men were fighting in World War II, a boy in a Cincinnati Reds cap took the mound against the St. Louis Cardinals at Crosley Field. At 15 years, 10 months and 11 days, Joe Nuxhall became the youngest baseball player in modern history. Despite a horrid ninth-inning outing, Nuxhall went on to an impressive career, including a 37-year run as a Reds announcer, before dying of lymphoma in 2007.
Big man Andrew Bynum went from high school to pro basketball, becoming the youngest player in the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers took him with the 10th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, and Bynum became a pro six days after his 18th birthday.
Nyjah Huston made his debut at the X Games at age 11 years and 246 days, making him the youngest athlete to appear at the tournament.
Born in Nigeria, Amobi Okoye was used to being the youngest of his peers. After immigrating to Huntsville, Alabama, in 1999, an aptitude test placed him in the ninth grade — at age 12. Four years later, he was in college playing defensive tackle for the Louisville Cardinals. When the Houston Texans took him as the 10th overall pick in the NFL draft, the then 19-year-old became the youngest player ever drafted.
In 2008, Stock car driver Joey Logano became the youngest person to win a Nationwide Series race at 18 years and 21 days, and a year later became the youngest to win a Sprint Cup Series race at age 19 years and 35 days.
In 1982, Northern Ireland's Norman Whiteside became the youngest player to take the field in the World Cup Finals, his country's opener against Yugoslavia. He was 17 years and 41 days old. On top of 38 appearances for his country, he also had an impressive club career with Everton and at Manchester United, where he still holds the record for youngest goal scorer.
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