Tadd Fujikawa
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| Tadd Fujikawa | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Tadd Fujikawa |
| Born | January 8, 1991 Honolulu, Hawaii, USA |
| Height | 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m) |
| Weight | 150 lb (68 kg; 11 st) |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Residence | Honolulu, Hawaii, USA |
| Career | |
| College | None |
| Turned professional | 2007 |
| Current tour(s) | None |
| Professional wins | 3 |
| Best results in Major Championships |
|
| The Masters | DNP |
| U.S. Open | CUT: 2006 |
| Open Championship | DNP |
| PGA Championship | DNP |
Tadd Fujikawa (born January 8, 1991) is a Japanese American professional golfer. Playing as an amateur at age 15, he qualified for the 2006 U.S. Open, the youngest golfer ever to do so. In 2007, he made the cut in a PGA Tour event at the Sony Open in Hawaii. At the age of 16 years, 4 days, he was the second youngest player to ever achieve that feat.
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[edit] Early life
Fujikawa was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was born three months premature and doctors gave him a 50-50 chance of survival. He weighed 1 pound, 15 ounces and was so small that he could fit in his grandfather's palm. His parents worried that he would grow up with a mental disability.[1] Partially as a result of his premature birth, at age 18 Fujikawa stands only 5 feet 1 inch/1.55 m tall. As of March 2007 he stated his weight was 150 pounds.[2]
[edit] Amateur career
In 2006, Fujikawa qualified for the U.S. Open at Winged Foot by winning the Hawaii sectional qualifier(67-69-136), becoming the youngest player in history to qualify for the tournament. At the U.S. Open, Fujikawa shot 81-77(158) and missed the cut by nine strokes.[3]
[edit] Professional career
[edit] 2007
Fujikawa made his second PGA Tour start (2006 U.S. Open was the first) at the 2007 Sony Open in Hawaii, having gained entry by shooting 67 in the Open Qualifier (PGA Tour Exemption Category #17).[4] In the second round of the Sony Open itself, Fujikawa became the youngest player in nearly 50 years to make a PGA Tour cut. A birdie on the 16th hole put him within the cut line, but it was his 15-foot eagle on the 18th hole that was his most memorable shot of the day. With that shot, Fujikawa secured a 4-under-par 66 and made the cut by three shots.[5]
Fujikawa followed up his history-making cut by shooting a second straight 66 in the third round, a score which, on that day, was bettered only by tournament leader Charles Howell III. Fujikawa made a 51-foot birdie on the 11th hole, finishing the third round tied for eighth place, along with Chad Campell and Tom Pernice Jr.[6]
Fujikawa shot 2-over-72 in Sunday's final round,which only included 2 birdies. He finished the tournament tied for 20th place at 5-under-275.[7]
One month after his record-breaking showing at the Sony Open in Hawaii, Fujikawa won the Hawaii Pearl Open, Hawaii's the most lucrative local golf tournament, held annually since 1979. Fujikawa was the first amateur since 1992 to win the tournament.[8]
On July 12, 2007, Fujikawa announced that he would be turning pro. He made his debut at the Reno-Tahoe Open where he missed the cut.[9]
Tadd Fujikawa is represented by Kevin Bell with the law firm of Patton Boggs LLP.
After missing the cut in in each of his first three events as a professional, Fujikawa recorded a hole in one on the 17th hole in the first round of this Nationwide Tour event. He went on to shoot 70 and 71 in the first two rounds and missed the cut again, this time by 3 strokes.
In September 2007, he hit an albatross at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland on the European Tour. It was not enough to make the cut though.[10] He also missed the cut at the Children's Miracle Network Classic which was the last official 2007 PGA Tour event.
[edit] 2008
On April 20, 2008, Fujikawa made his first cut as a professional and earned his first professional victory by winning the 50th annual Mid-Pacific Open in Hawaii. The Mid-Pacific Open is tournament run by the Mid-Pacific Country Club in Hawaii, with a mixed field of amateurs and professionals, mostly from Hawaii. Fujikawa's final score for the tournament was ten under-par 278. The second place finisher was former PGA Tour tournament winner , 52-year-old David Ishii. At age 17, Fujikawa became the youngest winner in tournament history.[11] The tournament is not affiliated with any organized golf tour and is played mostly by Hawaiian amateurs and professionals, both adults and juniors. Punahou High School seniors Stephanie Kono and Anna Jang also made history at the tournament as the first females to play and Kono was the first female to make a cut. Kono finished 33rd.[12] [13] [13]
[edit] 2009
In January 2009, Fujikawa Monday qualified for the Sony Open in Hawaii. He made the cut for the second time in three years, carding 71-69 to make the cut by one shot in blustery conditions. In the third round, he shot an 8-under 62, tying the course record, and moving him to within two shots of the leader. In the fourth round, he shot 73 and finished in a tie for 32nd place. On April 19 2009, Fujikawa successfully defended his title and earned his second professional win at the 51st annual Mid-Pacific Open. Fujikawa's final score was twelve under par 276. Fujikawa won by nine shots over former PGA Tour tournament winner, David Ishii. In the first week of June, Fujikawa won another local event in Hawaii, the two-round Maui Open.
[edit] Personal life
Fujikawa graduated from Moanalua High School in Honolulu, Hawaii in June 2009.[14] His father Derrick Fujikawa pleaded guilty to two counts of drug trafficking on February 3, 2009.[15]
[edit] Professional record and earnings
| Year | Dates | Tournament | Tour | Finish | Margin | Earnings ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Aug 2-5 | Reno Tahoe Open | PGA | MC | 5 from cutline | 0 |
| 2007 | Aug 23-26 | Jane Rogers Championship | Canadian | MC | 5 from cutline | 0 |
| 2007 | Sep 6-9 | Omega European Masters | European | MC | 7 from cutline | 0 |
| 2007 | Sep 20-23 | Albertsons Boise Open | Nationwide | MC | 3 from cutline | 0 |
| 2007 | Oct 11-14 | Frys.com Open | PGA | MC | 3 from cutline | 0 |
| 2007 | Oct 25-28 | Miccosukee Championship | Nationwide | MC | 2 from cutline | 0 |
| 2007 | Nov 1-4 | Children's Miracle Network Classic | PGA | MC | 4 from cutline | 0 |
| 2007 | Nov 22-25 | Casio World Open | Japan | MC | 4 from cutline | 0 |
| 2008 | Jan 10-23 | Sony Open in Hawaii | PGA | MC | 4 from cutline | 0 |
| 2008 | Feb 7-10 | AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am | PGA | MC | 12 from cutline | 0 |
| 2008 | Feb 28-Mar 2 | Honda Classic | PGA | MC | 10 from cutline | 0 |
| 2008 | Apr 17-20 | Mid-Pacific Open | none | 1 | - | 13,500 |
| 2008 | May 1-4 | The Crowns | Japan | T48 | 13 behind winner | 3,042 |
| 2008 | May 22-25 | Munsingwear Open KSB Cup | Japan | T65 | 23 behind winner | 2,122 |
| 2008 | Jul 24-27 | Nagashima Shigeo Invitational Sega Sammy Cup | Japan | MC | 3 from cutline | 0 |
| 2008 | Jul 31-Aug 3 | Sun Chlorella Classic | Japan | MC | 7 from cutline | 0 |
| 2008 | Aug 21-24 | KLM Dutch Open | European | MC | 6 from cutline | 0 |
| 2008 | Sep 4-7 | Omega European Masters | European | MC | 4 from cutline | 0 |
| 2009 | Jan 15-18 | Sony Open in Hawaii | PGA | T32 | 10 behind winner | 29,237 |
| 2009 | Feb 6-8 | Hawaii Pearl Open | none | T22 | 15 behind winner | 629 |
| 2009 | Mar 2-8 | Honda Classic | PGA | T52 | 13 behind winner | 12,805 |
| 2009 | Mar 12-15 | Puerto Rico Open | PGA | T31 | 9 behind winner | 19,850 |
| 2009 | Apr 16-19 | Mid-Pacific Open | none | 1 | - | 14,000 |
| 2009 | Apr 30-May 3 | The Crowns | Japan | MC | 3 from cutline | 0 |
| 2009 | May 14-17 | Valero Texas Open | PGA | MC | 4 from cutline | 0 |
| 2009 | June 6-7 | Maui Open | none | 1 | - | 3,000 |
| 2009 | July 23-26 | Cox Classic | Nationwide | T15 | 7 behind winner | 11,962 |
| 2009 | July 30-Aug 2 | Sun Chlorella Classic | Japan | T31 | 17 behind winner | 8,928 |
Margin = strokes behind winner or cutline, not applicable in cases of withdrawal, disqualification or matchplay format.
[edit] Youngest ever to make the cut in a PGA Tour event
- 15 years, 8 months, 20 days . . Bob Panasik at 1957 Canadian Open[16]
- 16 years, 0 months, 4 days . . . Tadd Fujikawa at 2007 Sony Open in Hawaii
- 16 years, 9 months, 7 days . . . Ty Tryon at 2001 Honda Classic
- 17 years, 1 month, 22 days . . . Tommy Jacobs at 1952 Masters Tournament
[edit] References
- ^ Shedloski, Dave (2007-01-13). "FINALLY! The teenager makes a cut!". Golf Channel/AP. http://www.thegolfchannel.com/core.aspx?page=15101&select=21529. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
- ^ Murray, Steve (2007-03-09). "Everybody Loves Tadd". Midweek Printing. http://www.midweek.com/content/story/theweekend_coverstory/everybody_loves_tadd/9. Retrieved 2009-01-20.
- ^ "2006 U.S. Open Championship - Full Leaderboard". YAHOO. 2006-06-18. http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/pga/leaderboard/2006/24. Retrieved 2007-05-31.
- ^ Miller, Ann (2006-12-19). "Moanalua's Fujikawa qualifies for Sony". The Honolulu Advertiser. http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Dec/19/sp/FP612190329.html. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
- ^ Ferguson, Doug (2007-01-13). "Little man Fujikawa is huge hit at Waialae". Associated Press/Yahoo. http://www.pgatour.com/2007/r/01/13/fujikawa_feature/index.html. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
- ^ Ferguson, Doug (2007-01-13). "Miracle child having dream week in PGA". Associated Press/Yahoo. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070114/ap_on_sp_go_ne/glf_sony_open_fujikawa. Retrieved 2007-01-14.
- ^ PGA Tour (2007-01-14). "Teens Fujikawa and Wie present quite a contrast at Sony Open". Associated Press/PGA Tour. http://www.pgatour.com/2007/r/01/14/teens011407.ap/index.html. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
- ^ Miller, Ann (2007-02-12). "Fujikawa wins Pearl Open by a stroke". The Honolulu Advertiser. http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070212/SPORTS09/702120350/1032/SPORTS. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
- ^ "Family supportive of Tadd's 'tough decision'". Honolulu Advertiser. 2007-07-13. http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070713/SPORTS09/707130375/1032/SPORTS09. Retrieved 2007-07-13.
- ^ "Golf-Rare albatross for American teenager Fujikawa". Reuters. 2007-09-07. http://uk.reuters.com/article/UK_GOLF/idUKL0790133620070907. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
- ^ Associated Press (2008-04-21). "Teenager Fujikawa Wins Mid-Pacific Open for First Victory as a Pro". PGA.com. http://www.pga.com/2008/news/other/04/21/fujikawa042108.ap/. Retrieved 2008-04-22.
- ^ Tang, Jason (2008-04-18). "History Made at Mid Pacific Open". KHNL. http://www.khnl.com/Global/story.asp?S=8191246. Retrieved 2008-04-22.
- ^ a b Kwon, Bill (2008-04-03). "50th Mid-Pacific Open attracts historic field". Honolulu Advertiser. http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080403/SPORTS0901/804030354/1055/SPORTSFRONT. Retrieved 2008-04-22.
- ^ http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090621/COLUMNISTS06/906210365/A+Tadd+more+by+others+can+help
- ^ Teen Golfer Fujikawa's Father Pleads Guilty Yahoo Sports, February 3, 2009
- ^ Rubenstein, Lorne (2007-01-15). "Look at Bob Panasik, the youngest player to make a cut on the PGA Tour". GolfObserver.Com. http://www.golfobserver.com/features/Rubenstein/Panasik_011507.php. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
