Using an interpreter, Fujikawa told the media at the Japan Golf Tour Organization tournament that his biggest problem was with the different grass in Japan.

"It's a totally new experience on the greens here at the Wago course," said Fujikawa,16. "And, the greens are so hard. It makes it very difficult to make the ball stop on your approach shots. The speed is normal, but the greens are extremely hard."

Fujikawa's only birdie in his second-round 74 came when he chipped in from 100 feet off the third green. That inspired a loud cheer from the crowd.

"That's when I realized I had my Japanese heritage on my side," Fujikawa said. "I got huge cheering from the gallery. I was so happy with that."

Fujikawa also chipped in at the 18th during an opening-round 76. He called that his best memory because it came on the "biggest stage — like the Masters or the Hawaiian Open at Waialae Country Club."

Fujikawa finished 20th in this year's Sony Open in Hawai'i at Waialae, becoming the youngest in 50 years to make a PGA Tour cut. That inspired a wave of offers from tournaments. He accepted an exemption into the PGA Tour's Reno-Tahoe Open in August, and this tournament, in part because he enjoyed Japan so much when he visited 10 years ago — so much he told his parents he didn't want to go home.

Now he is ready to return.

"I don't know when I'll have another chance, but I absolutely would like to came to Japan to participate in another tournament," Fujikawa said. "I didn't make the cut, but I really enjoyed staying here in the spring time in Japan."

Fujikawa's playing partners were 64-year-old Japanese legend Isao Aoki, the 1983 Hawaiian Open winner, and Yusaku Miyazato, brother of LPGA player Ai Miyazato. Fujikawa beat Aoki by two and Miyazato by three, finishing in a tie for 69th.

Gary Hallberg, a 49-year-old PGA Tour member, received the other exemption and made the cut by one (72-147).