It wouldn't have taken a miracle for Tadd Fujikawa to make the cut in the PGA Tour's final event of the year, the aptly named Children's Miracle Network Classic, at Walt Disney World.

All he needed was for a few putts to drop.

But what a story it would have been had he did. It would have meant a perfect book-end finish to the 2007 PGA season because he made the cut in the Sony Open in Hawai'i, the first full-field tour event of the year.

"I've had a few other chances, but the way I played at Disney, it was definitely the best chance I ever had. I was hitting the ball so well," said Fujikawa.

"I had a tough time with my putting — the distance and the speed. Having to play on two different courses made it difficult for me," added Fujikawa, who missed a bid to make his first cut since turning pro by two strokes in posting rounds of 71 and 73 for a 36-hole total of 143.

It showed.

He was blowing his putts by in the first round and then left birdie putts at the 10th and 11th holes short the next day.

"I overcompensated a little too much, I guess," said the 16-year-old Moanalua High School junior, who's back attending classes this week.

But not for long. The globe-trotting teenager leaves next Thursday for his third trip to Japan this year to play in the Casio World Open during Thanksgiving Week.

"I'm really tired but I'm hanging in there. I just have to suck it up. I consider myself lucky to play in all these tournaments," said Fujikawa, who not only has been to Japan, but to Canada, Florida, Idaho, Georgia and to PGA Tour events in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada.

All that and the Swiss Alps, too, for the Omega European Masters.

"It's a good experience to play in different places and I'm constantly asking those guys (fellow professionals) questions every place I go," Fujikawa said.

"I'm learning a lot. And I see a lot of improvement in my game. I'm really close to making a cut. I know I eventually will."

He hopes that eventuality will occur at the Casio World Open, a prestigious $1.4 million event on the Japan Golf Tour Organization.

Fujikawa is well aware he's following in the long-limbed footsteps of Hawai'i's other teenaged pro, Michelle Wie, who played in the Casio World Open the past two years.

Wie first played in the Sony Open, then Fujikawa, who also found his way to the Nationwide Tour's Albertson's Boise Open after Wie. And also the Omega European Masters in Switzerland.

"I think it's just coincidence," said Fujikawa. But he's well aware Wie has opened the eyes of tournament sponsors to precocious golfers from Hawai'i.

"It's nice to see Hawai'i's name out there, and I'm glad to be able to represent Hawai'i," he said.

And so it'll be Fujikawa, not Wie, at the Casio World Open. He hasn't commanded the kind of appearance money that Wie received. But it's more than ample to take care of the airfare, accommodations and other expenses, according to his mom, Lori Fujikawa.

One thing is for sure. The Casio people will get more bang for their bucks.

On another note, local pros can breathe a sigh of relief. With Fujikawa in Japan, they won't have to go up against him in the Prince Resorts Hawai'i State Open next week.

"He definitely would have played," Lori Fujikawa said. "We'd like him to play in all the home tournaments, if possible, like the Pearl Open and Mid-Pac (Open)."

Everybody's concerned about Fujikawa's schooling with all that time away from the classroom. But not to worry.

"I'm always on his case," she said. "He's doing OK. Maybe he's not a straight-A student anymore, but B's are fine."

Fujikawa keeps up on his classes online when he's on his trips.

"My teachers are really supportive. Without their help I don't think I could play," he said.

Lori Fujikawa, who has to take off a lot of time from work to accompany Tadd, has understanding bosses as well in Teddy and Christine Ito, owners of an auto body shop in Kalihi. "They're also so supportive of Tadd," she adds.