Talk about lucking out.

Sony Open in Hawai'i officials surely must be overjoyed that Tadd Fujikawa qualified to get into the PGA Tour's first full-field event of the year starting today at the Waialae Country Club.

Fujikawa's appearance will not only help boost attendance but also spare them a lot of face-saving and second-guessing for not giving a sponsor's exemption to the whiz kid who stole the show in the 2007 Sony Open when he became the youngest in 50 years to make the cut in a PGA event.

He already has helped the Sony Open get added national exposure by qualifying on Monday to get in. Imagine what it'll be like if he does something special again this week.

Fujikawa joins Dean Wilson and Parker McLachlin, the only two from Hawai'i on the PGA Tour, Aloha Section PGA Player of the Year John Lynch and amateur Lorens Chan in the 144-player field, making it a tournament within a tournament of sorts for the local fans.

"Got a few guys from Hawai'i playing, so it's pretty good," said Fujikawa, who shot a 5-under 67 at Turtle Bay's Palmer Course to get one of the four qualifying spots.

"It was good that Tadd made it. Now a lot more people are going to come out and watch him. I hope the publicity of this tournament will be a lot bigger," said Chan, meaning not only in Hawai'i but nationally. There's no doubt Fujikawa will attract the largest gallery.

"This year, I'm not the youngest in the field, my third year. I guess I'm a veteran," Fujikawa said, referring to the 14-year-old Chan, who got in by winning the Governor's Cup amateur qualifier.

"I feel very comfortable on this course and it should be a very good week. I'm very excited about it. I'm playing very well. We'll see what happens," said Fujikawa, who missed the cut by two strokes last year. He's still looking to make his first cut in a tour event since turning pro.

Taking the same mind-set he had in Monday's qualifier should help, according to Fujikawa.

"I went out there, not forcing anything. My tendency has been to go out there and try too hard and that gets me into trouble. Luckily, it worked out and I'm back. It's like a redemption. I feel good about earning my way in — not getting an invitation and Monday-qualifying. It makes it feel that much better. I've worked hard for it."

He figures this year will be like 2008 — working hard on his game and trying to get sponsor's exemptions to tournaments in the states, Japan and Europe.

"I want to play as much as I can. Get in contention and get myself some really good experience," said Fujikawa, who is well aware that a top-10 finish here can get him into next week's Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

"That would be a good plus and it would help me out a lot," he said. "If I do well here this week it should jump-start at least a few things. It'll make me feel good, going from Monday-qualifying to making the top 10."

Unless he's away at some tournament, there will be two Tadd Sightings coming up — next month's Hawaii Pearl Open and the Moanalua High School graduation ceremonies in May. He's looking forward to wearing that cap and gown, and then pursue golf full-time in order to accomplish his dream of playing on tour.

He still hasn't turned in his application for the Pearl Open, which is due tomorrow. But tournament director David Ishii isn't worried if Fujikawa doesn't make the deadline: "If he turns it in late, he won't be rejected."

Ishii was out at Waialae, site of his 1990 United Airlines Hawaiian Open victory, following his golf pupil, Chan, as he played nine holes with McLachlin, Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly, another former Sony Open champion.

"They all hit the ball really good, so I learned a lot," said the 'Iolani School freshman, who can drive the ball 270 yards so he's not worried about length. "I was amazed how they can spin the ball. Parker told me what I can do to make it spin a little better, you know, higher, softer."

McLachlin also gave Chan some other words of advice:

"Just trying to help him understand where he is, that, hey, this is just the beginning of a very long career, hopefully, a successful career for him. Understand that it's a pretty special opportunity he's got here. So just enjoy it out here this week."

McLachlin was impressed with Chan's game. "For 14 years old, it's absolutely incredible. I wish I was as good of a player as he is when I was 14. Hopefully, he has a great week."

Wilson, the "Dean" of the Hawai'i Five, thought it was great that two talented teens are joining them. "Parker and I are the old veterans," said Wilson, who recently celebrated his 39th birthday. "We got a whole bunch of (local) guys out here, so I hope people will come out and watch us play."

Wilson recently signed on with Mauna Lani, joining McLachlin as a representative of a Big Island resort (Waikoloa) on the PGA Tour.

The Kane'ohe native's last competitive round was in October. "But I've been playing, practicing. I've been out here the last three weeks, trying to get as educated on this course as I can," said Wilson, who missed the cut in his past three Sony appearances. "Hopefully, I can get off to a better start, make some birdies early."

McLachlin doesn't view it as a tournament within a tournament. "I'm rooting for all of us to really play well. I think it's exciting for the state to see five quality golfers from Hawai'i that people can root for."

For Lynch, just playing in the Sony Open this week is reward enough. "To me, it's not about making the cut or how we finish. I feel I've already been rewarded. Lorens should have the same attitude I have — just have fun and enjoy the experience as a reward for the year we've had."