Tadd Fujikawa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tadd Fujikawa (born January 8, 1991) is an amateur American golfer. At age 15, he qualified for the 2006 U.S. Open, the youngest golfer since 1941 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 3 1/2 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 16 Fujikawa stands only 5 feet 1 inch/1.55 m tall.
[edit] Education
Fujikawa is currently a sophomore at Moanalua High School in Honolulu, Hawaii.
[edit] Notable tournament performances
- 2006 U.S. Open
In 2006, Fujikawa qualified for the U.S. Open at Winged Foot by winning the Hawaii sectional qualifier, becoming the youngest player since 1941 to qualify for the tournament. At the U.S. Open, Fujikawa shot 81-77 and missed the cut, finishing 140th.[2]
- 2007 Sony Open In Hawaii
Fujikawa made his second PGA Tour start (2006 US Open was the first) at the 2007 Sony Open, having gained entry by shooting 67 in the Open Qualifier (PGA Tour Exemption Category #17).[3]. 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 3 shots.[4].
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 50-foot birdie on the 11th hole, finishing the third round tied for eighth place.[5].
Fujikawa shot 2-over-72 in Sunday's final round. He finished the tournament tied for 20th place. 5-under-275.[6].
- 2007 Hawaii Pearl Open
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.[7].
[edit] List: Youngest ever to to make the cut in a PGA Tour event
- 15 years, 8 months, 20 days . . Bob Panasik at 1957 Canadian Open[8]
- 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. Retrieved on 2007-01-15.
- ^ 2006 U.S. Open Championship - Full Leaderboard. USGA (2006-06-18). Retrieved on 2007-01-28.
- ^ Miller, Ann (2006-12-19). Moanalua's Fujikawa qualifies for Sony. The Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved on 2007-01-15.
- ^ Ferguson, Doug (2007-01-13). Little man Fujikawa is huge hit at Waialae. Associated Press/Yahoo. Retrieved on 2007-01-13.
- ^ Ferguson, Doug (2007-01-13). Miracle child having dream week in PGA. Associated Press/Yahoo. Retrieved on 2007-01-14.
- ^ PGA Tour (2007-01-14). Teens Fujikawa and Wie present quite a contrast at Sony Open. Associated Press/PGA Tour. Retrieved on 2007-01-15.
- ^ Miller, Ann (2007-02-12). Fujikawa wins Pearl Open by a stroke. The Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved on 2007-02-12.
- ^ Rubenstein, Lorne (2007-01-15). Look at Bob Panasik, the youngest player to make a cut on the PGA Tour. GolfObserver.Com. Retrieved on 2007-01-18.
