Matsuyama Understands Guan Pressure

Japan's Hideki Matsuyama said Wednesday that Chinese teenager Guan Tianlang will be feeling the pressure to retain his Asia-Pacific amateur title this week.

Matsuyama, 21, was speaking from experience having won the amateur trophy in 2010 and 2011. He has since turned pro and is now ranked 29 in the world.

"I did back-to-back wins, and the second time there was a lot of pressure on me," said Matsuyama.

"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 survived the cut -- despite a one-shot penalty for slow play -- and was the lowest-scoring amateur.

Guan, now 15, defends his amateur title on home soil in Nanshan, China this week.