China's teenage sensation Jin Cheng is lining up against a collection of the world's best players at the Thailand Golf Championship this week as he edges his way toward life as a professional and ­toward a debut appearance at next year's US Masters.

The 17-year-old won his way into the field at Augusta thanks to his victory at the 2015 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (APAC) in Hong Kong in October and the golfing world has since opened its arms to the Beijing-born prospect, handing him places in the field at the Asian Tour's Macao Open and then here again at this event held on the outskirts of Bangkok.

Jin will be lining up Thursday against the likes of two-time Masters champion and current world No.4 Bubba Watson, as well as fellow major winners Martin Kaymer, Darren Clarke and Y.E. Yang, past Thailand Golf Championship winners Lee Westwood (2011 and 2014) and Sergio Garcia (2013), and Asian stars Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

But the youngster seemed ready for the challenge ahead as he stole a few hours at the driving range of the ­Amata Spring Country Club.

"I'm excited to be here among all these great players and I hope that I can do well," said Jin. "I am still learning and want to keep learning as I prepare myself for a career in golf. It's been a great year for me so far so I am really happy with the way things are going for me.

Jin shot a course-record eight-under-par 62 on his way to becoming just the second Chinese player to win the APAC title - following Guan Tianlang in 2012 - in an event that was reduced to three rounds due to bad weather. He followed that up with a 65th-place finish at the pro event in Macao and then won the ­individual award at the Nomura Cup Asia-Pacific men's team event.

Jin first grabbed headlines when he won the PGA Tour China's Nine ­Dragons Open in Jiaxing last year - the first time an amateur player had won an event on the professional domestic tour. He learned the game after his father brought him to a golf course when he was 8. He is currently dividing his time between golf and preparations for life in college in the US next year.

"My long game is coming along OK," he said. "It's not really as consistent as I would like it yet but I am getting there and I know you have to work hard at this game to achieve what you want."

Aside from the $1 million in prize money, the Thailand Golf Championship also has four direct entries to next year's British Open. Jin had already ­assured himself a place in the qualifying rounds for that prestigious tournament as part of his APAC prize, so that would certainly be a bonus, considering he's already heading for the Masters come April.

"To play Augusta is the dream of ­every golfer so to think that I am going to be there next year is really exciting," he said.

"I can't wait to get there and take it all in."

But for the moment at least, the young Chinese star is not look too far off into the distance.

"This will be an exciting week ahead for me here," he said. "Whatever happens here I want to build on it and just keep improving my game."