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We won't find out this year as the Hawaiian youngster shoots 67 in qualifying to earn a spot in the Sony Open field.
In 2007 just days sly of his 16th birthday, Tadd Fujikawa opened up with rounds of 71-66 at the Sony Open in Hawaii to become the youngest player to make a cut in PGA Tour history.
He electrified the golfing world on Saturday by shooting 66 and went into the final round in contention. A final round 72 dropped him into a T20th. It wasn't the first time that Fujikawa walked into the spotlight in golf, the pervious year Fujikawa was the youngest competitor in U.S. Open history (15 years, 6 months, 7 days) when he qualified for the 2006 event at Winged Foot. He missed the cut there.
Despite the public outcry, Fujikawa decided right after his great Sony Open in '07 to turn pro and it's been an uphill battle ever since. On the PGA Tour he has played in six events, including last year's Sony Open and missed six cuts. On the Nationwide Tour he has played twice with two missed cuts. On the European Tour he is 3 for 3 in missed cuts, about the only place he has made a cut is in Japan were in six tries he made two cuts finishing T48th at the Crowns and T65th at the Munsingwear Open.
He is now 18 and the cuteness in his nature has worn out as he no longer gets sponsor exemptions. Even this year, his hometown Sony Open didn't give him a free pass, despite his charm and the fact that galleries love to watch him play. But thanks to some good play on Monday, Fujikawa will be returning to the Sony Open.
Fujikawa qualified by earning one of the four qualifying spots at the par-72, 7,128-yard Turtle Bay's Palmer Course. Fujikawa shot 33-34—67 and tied for top honors with San Diego's Alex Aragon and Japan's Jumpei Takayama. In a Honolulu Advertiser article he said how good he felt over the accomplishment and that "I'm very excited about being back at Sony. I've been really, really working hard. All the help from coaches and support from family and friends and all my hard work is paying off."
Fujikawa had a bogey free round, making five birdies including one at 18 were he hit a wedge to within two feet and made the putt assuring him a spot. Fujikawa knew that he needed 67 as he told the Honolulu Advertiser, "I figured 67 would be close to the number," he said. "I knew I had to make birdie to have a good chance." Three players shot 68 and John Lepak beat Jay Williamson and Derek Lamely for the final spot.
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