Six strokes into 2008, Tadd Fujikawa was rudely reminded that the date on the calendar wasn't the only thing that has changed since his last Sony Open in Hawai'i appearance.

When he left Waialae Country Club last year it might have as well been on a magic carpet. He was the perpetually grinning 16-year-old who rocked the golf world by becoming the youngest player in 50 years to make a PGA Tour cut.

Yesterday he was back at age 17 with a smile from one sunburned cheek to the other, even if the magic wasn't.

On the second hole, Fujikawa watched his ball whack a branch high up in a tree and plummet straight down to the ridge of a sand trap with a thud.

Sort of like his hopes for the day.

By the time he had worked out of the situation, he'd suffered a double bogey. By the time he recorded his first birdie, 10 holes later, Fujikawa was on a path to a 4-over-par 74 (40-34) that makes repeating the wonder of surviving the cut — much less another 20th-place finish — unlikely.

Golf can do that. And not just to bubbly 17-year-olds turned pro.

Indeed, yesterday was rich in lessons amid five bogeys and three birdies. It was a 4-hour, 40-minute eye-opener as well as a test of maturity and persistence as expectations met reality. Never mind that the Moanalua High junior — and the classmates who showed up to follow him — are still on holiday break until Monday. That doesn't mean the education has stopped. In fact, it is 7,044 yards deep in lessons. "I learned a lot out here," Fujikawa acknowledged. "That's why I'm here."

Such as next time a mahogany tree poses a challenge, he might like to go under it rather than attempt an over-the-top shot that brought down leaves, his hopes for the day and, likely the tournament.

"When I hit the tree on my second shot, it kind of killed me a little bit," Fujikawa said. "I lost my confidence and I couldn't get it back until the back nine. I made a bad decision to go over the tree instead of under the tree . That was just a bad decision on my part. I thought I could get it over, actually. It wasn't that high (and) I figured the lie was OK in the rough and thought I could get it over. I ended up hitting the tree and lost my momentum."

Not that he was without considerable help in trying to get it back. Several Moanalua classmates followed him on his round, doing the wave when he passed by. Fans flashed shaka signs and shouted encouragement. "Without them and all their support, I might have shot an 80," Fujikawa said.

From one end of the course to the other, they beseeched him to "hang in there" and "be yourself."

That he did with both a resolve and, for him, a trademark upbeat nature. Only once, at the 11th hole, after going to six over, when he softly pounded the top of his bag like a drum, did the frustration show. And, then, he proceeded to pick up his first birdie on 12, hitting the pin. "He handled it well," said playing partner Scott Sterling who, at 35, is twice Fujikawa's age. So well, in fact, that sometimes you couldn't tell how Fujikawa was playing by his countenance or body language. On the 14th hole, where he had arrived six over par, a fan asked: "is that six over — or six under?"

Fujikawa might as well have told him it was the difference between 2007 and '08.

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