Tadd Fujikawa's paycheck at the Honda Classic Sunday paled compared to what he banked from the Sony Open, but the performance and what it meant sure didn't.

Fujikawa received $12,805.34 for his play at Honda, but earned a lot more, including increased cachet, with the 52nd-place finish in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

It was a breakthrough showing for the 18-year-old Moanalua High senior, reaffirming not only that he can make a cut on the PGA Tour but, significantly, demonstrating that he can also do it away from his backyard.

In this case, more than 4,800 miles away.

Making the cut at Sony in January, where he came out of Monday qualifying to bank $29,237.14 for a tie for 32nd place, was huge. It showed that he wasn't just a one-shot wonder for the 2006 eye-opener in which he became the youngest in 50 years to make a PGA Tour cut. The failure to make the cut back at Waialae Country Club in 2007, backed with a sponsor's exemption, seemed to smack of Michelle Wie's struggles there after her near-miss in 2004 and subsequent failures in 2005-07.

So when Fujikawa made the cut at Sony this year days after his 18th birthday — and even shared the lead for a time — it was important that he follow it up this time by taking his remarkable show on the road and repeating the feat. Somewhere. Anywhere. Sooner better than later preferably.

All the more so since he'd made but one cut (Sony) in 10 previous shots as a pro on the PGA, Nationwide and European tours combined.

Sure, you could understand the pros thinking here at Sony, the kid is amazing on his own island. But what happens when he strays from the 808 area code?

Armed with a sponsor's exemption in his first PGA outing since Sony, Fujikawa made a big leap by making the cut at the PGA National Resort & Spa Champions course. Not even a 3-over-par 73 on the third day rattled him as he came back with a 1-under-par 69 final round with a 20-foot birdie on the 18th hole.

Fujikawa can add to his course cred this week in the Puerto Rico Open. There, in a tournament scheduled to be shown on the Golf Channel beginning Thursday, comes the opportunity to build his game and his visibility. Just as the Sony showing earned him sponsor's exemptions to Honda and Puerto Rico, back-to-back cuts would set him up well for this summer.

The Puerto Rico Open has, for Fujikawa, the added benefit of playing opposite the World Golf Championships on the PGA Tour schedule, meaning Tiger Woods and many of the more accomplished names will be at Doral, Fla., where the World ($8 million) has more than double the total purse.

For Fujikawa, though, this isn't just about building a bank account now; there is also a reputation to be given currency.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.