Posted on: Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Moanalua teen keeps positive, and realistic, outlook for Sony
By Bill Kwon
Special to The Advertiser
Assuming an underdog role is nothing new for Tadd Fujikawa, the lone amateur in the Sony Open in Hawai'i, the PGA Tour's first full-field event of the year.
Advertiser library photo So he's not intimidated by taking on tour professionals this week at Waialae Country Club.
For one thing, the Moanalua High sophomore said he wasn't intimidated in last summer's U.S. Open at Winged Foot, where he competed as the youngest player in the 106-year history of that major championship.
Neither will his size — he's 5 feet 1 — be a negative. He averages around 285 yards on his drives, and length is not a factor at Waialae.
"I'm confident because I shot a good score (5-under-par 67) in the qualifying. So I know it's possible. And thanks to Waialae, I've been practicing there every day since then. I've played there enough," Fujikawa said.
He admits the golf course will be more of a challenge with two of the par-5s changed to par-4s for the Sony Open.
Besides familiarity with the golf course, there's another intangible in his favor, according to the youngster, who turned 16 on Monday.
"I think that coming from Hawai'i and having a tournament in Hawai'i is an advantage. I hope a lot of people will support me. It's going to be a lot of fun."
No matter what happens, Fujikawa is looking forward to this week.
"To make the cut would be a pretty good goal. At first, I wanted to win, but I've got to be realistic."
Fujikawa has had to battle the odds all his young life, beginning when he was born 3› months prematurely and weighed less than two pounds.
Tadd Fujikawa's dreams are realistic: Make the cut, not win.
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| MEET TADD
Height: 5-1 Weight: 145 Birthplace: Honolulu Amateur 2006 highlights Became youngest (15) player in 106-year history of U.S. Open Championship (missed cut) at Winged Foot Golf Club (N.Y.) ... Won Turtle Bay Amateur ... Won Oahu Country Club Men's Invitational ... third in Hawai'i High School Athletic Association championship ... co-champion in O'ahu Interscholastic Association championship ... second team Rolex Junior All-American ... part of winning West team at Canon Cup ... finished tied for seventh at Ping Invitational ... qualified for Sony as low amateur in Governor's Cup. |
