Early run just isn't enough for Fujikawa to make cut

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HONOLULU -- Tadd Fujikawa continued to capture the hearts and minds of his fellow residents at the Sony Open in Hawaii on Friday, but he couldn't recapture the magic that propelled him to stardom last year.

Going forward, Tadd Fujikawa will try to play whenever he can. (Badz/PGA TOUR/WireImage)

Inside the Numbers

Fujikawa thru 36 Holes

Category Total Eagles 0 Birdies 6 Pars 22 Bogeys 6 Double Bogeys 2 Driving Accuracy 50.0% Driving Distance 289.5 yds. Greens in Regulation 66.7% Putts per Round 30.0

The local teen who made the cut and went on to tie for 20th a year ago in the PGA TOUR's first full-field event this time was sent home early when his even-par 70 effort at Waialae Country Club left him four strokes shy of qualifying for the weekend. Fujikawa, who just turned 17, completed 36 holes in 4-over 144.

"I hit a few good shots. I had a lot of cheers. I had a lot of fun. I just didn't get done what I wanted to do," said Fujikawa, who despite being a junior in high school competed this year as a professional. "I was trying to make birdies, but just had some careless mistakes and they really hurt."

Fujikawa made an early run with birdies on two of the first six holes. When he knocked in a 7-footer on the 15th hole, he pumped his first a half-dozen times, as if trying to fire himself up. A bogey at the first (his 10th) was offset by a birdie at No. 2.

"I had a good run going," he said.

It stalled at the par-4 sixth. He pushed his second shot and then dumped his third from deep rough into a bunker. A poor sand shot and two putts dropped him back to even on the round, and that is where he finished.

"I pretty much knew it was gone when I doubled 6," he said. "I was trying to hit it too close on my second shot, and I kind of pushed it way, way to the right and had a bad lie in the rough and then hit in the bunker and hit a bad bunker shot. But I think things like that come with experience, and the two double bogeys I made this week were because of two mental errors."

Fujikawa, who has yet to make a cut since turning professional last summer, intends to try and play wherever he can get in a field to help his growth as a golfer.

"Just get out there, play as much as you can, get as much experience as you can, and in the long run it's really going to help," he said. "That's what I'm going to try to do, just try to go out there, have fun and do the best that I can. Hopefully, I can get my TOUR card maybe by next year. If not then I'm going to have to earn my way in some other way.

"Hopefully I can do it. I think I can," he added with a smile. "I believe in myself and my ability. I'm really looking forward to just coming out and playing well."

Fujikawa's pockets weren't completely empty at day's end despite the missed cut. Hawaii Medical Assurance Association announced early Friday that it was providing sponsorship money to the youngster.

"Every little bit helps," said Fujikawa, who next competes at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. "It gives me time to get my feet under me, and I think that's all I need is a little time, a few more tournaments to get myself going."