Tournament Coverage

Tadd Fujikawa Turning Pro at 16

So looks like another young golfer from Hawaii, Tadd Fujikawa (16), will make a run at becoming a professional. This news is coming on the heels of a Nationwide Tour win by Jason Day at the Legend Financial and while Michelle Wie continues to struggle with her wrist.

Jason Day turned pro last year at 18, and it has worked out pretty well for him to this point. His argument was that while he could have spent four years in college competing in amateur events, he felt four years of professional experience would be more valuable. Fair enough, at 18, I can see someone making that decision. But at 15/16? I know you want to make your mark on the world, but how much of this is his desire to be a professional golfer and not simply his parents wanting to cash in their retirement plan early? It’s easy to say now that I’m in my 30s, but man…don’t be in such a rush to grow up! Even Tiger Woods, the ultimate child prodigy, waited until he was 21 to turn pro.

Nonetheless, I do wish him the best of luck.

HONOLULU (AP) — Another teenager from Hawaii is turning pro.

Tadd Fujikawa, the 16-year-old who became the youngest player in more than 50 years to make the cut on the PGA Tour, said Thursday he was giving up his amateur status and would made his pro debut in three weeks at the Reno-Tahoe Open.

“I will work hard to achieve my dreams as a professional golfer and to be a good representative for Hawaii,” Fujikawa said in a statement released by Patton Boggs, a Washington DC-based law firm that will represent him.

He scheduled a news conference later Thursday at Waialae Country Club, where in January the 5-foot-1 Fujikawa sent the gallery into a frenzy with an eagle on the 18th hole for a 66 that allowed him to make the cut at the Sony Open.

He stole the attention from Michelle Wie, the most popular golfer in Hawaii who turned pro at age 15. Wie, who just graduated high school, has spiraled into a miserable slump and has not broken par on any tour in nearly a year.

Fujikawa, who just finished his sophomore year at Moanalua High School, first drew attention in 2006 when he qualified for the U.S. Open at Winged Foot.

Fujikawa received a sponsor’s exemption to the Reno-Tahoe Open, which starts Aug. 2.

Kevin Bell, a partner in the law firm who will serve as his attorney-agent, said Fujikawa will ask for other sponsor exemptions on the PGA Tour or try to qualify on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour and in Japan until he finishes high school.

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