Call it Hawai'i's Dream Team.

I got a letter from a golfing friend of mine, who wished to remain anonymous. He sent a check for $1,000 to kick-start a "Tadd Fujikawa Golf Dream Fund" for the teenage phenom, who in saying he wanted to follow his dream, turned professional two months ago.

The donor first proposed the idea to his "Sunday Golf Club" of about 20 members.

"I told them no big money sponsors are going to help Tadd until he establishes himself. Until then, Tadd will need financial help from nickel-and-dime guys like us."

One skeptic told him, "Put your money where your mouth is."

"So here is my money," said the donor, writing a check for a grand.

Other members of his club are now following suit with $50 checks to get the Dream Fund going. They hope other local golfers will join them.

Said the anonymous donor, "My friend asked me, 'why do you think people will donate money for a Tadd Fujikawa Fund?' "

He answered, "Because when I became a candidate for the Hawai'i state Legislature in 1970, people I didn't know donated money for my election campaign. These people were not lobbyists but strangers who read my resume and sent checks and words, 'good luck,' 'do a good job.'

"Also, like Tadd, I made my own personal decision because I felt there was a job to be done. After my election, I found the work of a legislator so intriguing, important and challenging that I did not seek another paying job and devoted full time (to it).

"Tadd is a part-time pro golfer and a part-time high school student for two more years. He chose an intriguing and challenging path. We must support this brave young man," the donor wrote.

"Tadd had to turn pro in order that he can accept money for expenses. He realized that his parents suffered great financial stress as long as he remained an amateur."

That people wanted to start up a dream fund was a pleasant surprise to Fujikawa's parents, Derrick and Lori.

Really, it shouldn't have been.

The 5-foot-1 mighty might captured the attention of golf fans, locally and nationally, by becoming the youngest ever to play in the 106-year history of the U.S. Open in 2006 at the age of 15. During the week of his 16th birthday in January he became the youngest player in 50 years to make a PGA Tour cut in the Sony Open in Hawai'i, finishing tied for 20th with a 5-under-par 275. That made headlines and the front covers of Golf World and Golf Week.

A month later, he became the youngest winner of the Hawai'i Pearl Open against a field of pros from here, Japan and the Mainland.

Those successes gave Fujikawa the confidence that he could play against the best and that it was the right time to pursue his goal of being a professional golfer.

"This is every golfer's dream," Fujikawa said.

Since turning pro July 12, Fujikawa missed the cut in his first two money events — the Reno-Tahoe Open, and a Canada Tour event. This week, Fujikawa hopes the third time will be a charm in the Omega European Masters in Switzerland, getting a sponsor's exemption to the most prestigious event on the European Tour after the British Open.

He's taking all of his Moanalua High School textbooks with him as he and his mom will go directly to Sea Island, Ga., to work with his instructors and then play in the Albertson's Boise Open, a Nationwide Tour event, Sept. 20 to 23.

All of the traveling costs money, even though he received roundtrip airfare to Switzerland.

So it's a serendipitous turn of events that a dream fund for Tadd got started by some well-meaning fans.

"It's a feel-good project that needs a boost," said the anonymous donor. "I hope like-thinking readers can donate to such a worthy cause."

Contributions can be sent directly to the Tadd Fujikawa family at 1402 Ala Hoku Place, Honolulu, HI 96819.

Bill Kwon can be reached at bkwon@aloha.net