Tadd Fujikawa's back problems turned out to be short term and the 19-year-old is headed to Japan next week. He will play in The Crowns, a prestigious event on the Japan Golf Tour Organization calendar that starts April 29.

This is the third straight year Fujikawa has received an exemption into the tournament. He finished 48th two years ago.

Fujikawa withdrew in Saturday's final round of the eGolf Tour Championship because of a bad back. He was 9-over par after three rounds and earned $917.

"I just slept kinda funny I guess," the Moanalua High alum said yesterday from Georgia. "That one day my back, up by my shoulders, hurt. I was struggling to hit the ball. I tried to play, but it was just bad. I couldn't hit the ball so I decided to ease my pain a little bit."

By Monday, Fujikawa said he felt fine. He is practicing in Georgia until next week, when he will head to Nagoya for The Crowns, which was won by Hawai'i's David Ishii in 1986 and Seve Ballesteros the following year.

Fujikawa plans to return to the eGolf Tour when he gets back from Japan.