Tadd Fujikawa's excellent golf adventure moves to Miami next week. The 16-year-old has been given a sponsor's exemption to play in the $575,000 Miccosukee Championship, Oct. 25 to 28. It is the last Nationwide event before the season-ending Tour Championship.

The tournament is played at the former Miami National Golf Club, home to LPGA and PGA Tour events in the past. The course was purchased in 2001 by the Miccosukee Tribe and is now called Miccosukee Golf and Country Club. Bryce Molder won last year with a score of 14-under-par 270. Boo Weekly was second and Hawai'i's Parker McLachlin tied for 10th.

Former Miami Dolphins quarterback Don Strock — the Dolphins are title sponsor of next week's Pro-Am — is executive director of the Miccosukee Foundation. He offered Fujikawa the exemption, fully aware of the buzz that has followed him since he became the youngest ever to qualify for the U.S. Open last year, then followed up with a 20th-place finish at this year's Sony Open in Hawai'i.

Fujikawa turned pro in July and has missed the cut in his first five professional starts — two PGA Tour events, one each on the Canadian and European tours and Nationwide's Albertson's Boise Open. At last week's Frys.com Open, Fujikawa finished last when he shot 74-80.

He can't remember the last time he shot an 80, but is hardly discouraged.

"It was a pretty tough day," Fujikawa said. "That's something you go through. It will make me a better player — times like that I don't usually experience. You learn from experience. It improves your game and gives you more knowledge. I'm always learning."

The Fujikawas hired a tour caddie last week because of his course knowledge. The caddie got sick before the second round, forcing Tadd's mother, Lori, to take the bag. Even that was a learning experience. Tour players offered Fujikawa advice about keeping his own yardage book and updating it during rounds. But first, he is focusing on his swing.

"It's tough to tell when your game will really gel and come together," Fujikawa said. "To be the best, you need to have it gel all the time. I want it to come together every time I'm on the course. I still need work on my game. It's getting there, closer everyday, but there's a lot of work to be done.

"With guys who have been on tour 20 years I'm definitely at a disadvantage. By me turning pro and getting out and playing tournaments, it helps me a lot to learn and get experience. And, I'm meeting a lot of good people. It's really helping me."

He insists the pressure to make a cut is not taking a toll and talks about "attacking" more conservatively, without "holding back anything" this week. According to Lori, the cut is rarely a conversation topic.

"We really don't talk about going out and making a cut," she said. "Of course the objective is to make a cut, but he just needs to play well and learn now."

All four rounds of the Miccosukee Championship will be broadcast on The Golf Channel, beginning at 6 a.m. in Hawai'i Thursday and Friday and 7 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.