Breaking barriers and crossing borders with equal abandon, Hawai'i's Tadd Fujikawa accepted a sponsor's exemption to play in the Omega European Masters next week in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. It is the lone Swiss stop on the European Tour.

Honolulu's Michelle Wie played the Omega last year and missed the cut with rounds of 79-78. It is considered by many the second-most prestigious European event after the British Open. Seve Ballesteros won it three times. Ernie Els is a past champion, as is Sergio Garcia.

"In the beginning I was kinda iffy about this tournament in Switzerland," Fujikawa said. "It sounded so far away. Then they told me it was the European Masters and I was like, 'Oh my gosh, I definitely have to go to this one.' It's such a prestigious event. And the European Tour is a really good venue right now; the players are really good."

Fujikawa, 16, leaves for Switzerland this morning with his mother Lori. The tournament is giving them two business-class tickets, hotel and transportation, and arranging for a local caddie.

They will take pretty much all his Moanalua High school books for what will be a three-week trip. He goes directly from Switzerland to Sea Island, Ga., to work with his coaches. The following week (Sept. 20 to 23) he will play in the Nationwide Tour's Albertsons Boise Open, and has been asked by the sponsor to participate in a series of events leading up to the tournament.

The Menehune junior was invited to play Omega by tournament owner Christian Barras, who also owns Crans-sur-Sierre, site of the tournament. It is a Jack Nicklaus course located in the Swiss Alps. A world famous ski resort, Crans-Montana is on a plateau above the Rhone Valley and has a view of peaks from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc.

Fujikawa will play in Monday's Pro-Am. The tournament is from Thursday to Sunday (Sept. 6 to 10). Barras has asked Fujikawa to participate in next Sunday's trophy presentation. The cut comes after two rounds, with the top 65 and ties advancing.

In January, the 5-foot-1 Fujikawa became the youngest in 50 years to make a PGA Tour cut. He finished 20th at the Sony Open in Hawai'i, won the Hawai'i Pearl Open soon after and turned pro in July.

He has missed the cut at his first two professional events, the PGA Tour's Reno-Tahoe Open and last week's Jane Rogers Championship on the Canadian Tour. He opened with a 78 at Reno and shot 74 last Thursday in Canada.

"I really need to control my emotions out there," Fujikawa said. "It's more an inner thing than an outer thing. I have to control myself more on the inside, especially the first day. I feel so ready, you know? I feel the most ready I've been in my life, really excited. I get too anxious. I know I can do it, I'm just trying a little too hard. I need to let it happen. This is a pretty big one coming up so I hope I can do well."

The field for the $2.73 million event is made up of 150 pros and six amateurs. First prize is approximately $454,000.

Padraig Harrington leads the European Tour's Order of Merit (money list), followed by Justin Rose and Ernie Els. Last year, Bradley Dredge won the Omega by eight shots with a 72-hole score of 17-under-par 267. Garcia tied for fourth at 276.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.