Tadd Fujikawa is the New Wie

[[email protected]]

The media's neurotic obsession with golf's new bionic woman got shelved last weekend and a little amateur stole the show. Tadd Fujikawa was the youngest player in fifty years to make the cut at a PGA Tour event. My new favorite amateur golfer showed us what is sorely needed on the PGA Tour. Just as Wie, with her injured wrist, was thrashing around the Sony Open to another disappointing missed cut (+14) this five-foot-one firecracker steals the show. It was the best golf story since Tiger won the British Open.

 

 

Wie has more than her fair share of talent. She plays exceptionally well considering her age. She nearly made the cut at the Sony Open in 2006 and finished T3, T5, T3, and T26 in the women's majors last year. That's a good year for most of the LPGA field and she's only now 17. But her propensity to accept every PGA Tour sponsor's exemption is annoying.

 

 

In my opinion the ramp-up to Michelle's appearance at the Sony Open was underwhelming. We've seen her miss a couple too many cuts so far. The Sony needed Fujikawa. He played confidently, his smile was infectious, and he profusely thanked local fans for their support. Michelle Wie should make a bee-line to the Fujikawa's front door with a plate of freshly baked cookies to thank him for soaking up the attention. He saved her from the inevitable questions about the state of her game. It saved us her calculated (and yet still incredibly naïve) responses.

 

 

Last year Fujikawa was the youngest player since 1941 to qualify for the U.S. Open.

 

 

He did so many things right last weekend. His Saturday round was stunning considering the way he played down the stretch to make the cut. He slam dunked his eagle putt on 18 Friday and showed up again on Saturday to put on an impressive display of steady golf.

 

 

Not only was his golf impressive but the way that he carried himself on the course was equally memorable. He made it his aim to acknowledge every fan that cheered him which was an impossible task given the size of his gallery.

 

 

I understand that during Saturday's breakfast he went and thanked some thirty of the course members for allowing him to prepare and play on the course leading up to the tournament. Memorable.

 

 

At one point during Saturday's round he had reached 8-under and was within a few strokes of the lead leaving a crowd of professionals in his dust. This was the same Tad who had to ask his mom if he could stay up on Friday to watch highlights. It doesn't get any better.

 

 

There were plenty of quality shots to celebrate last weekend. A few stand out to me. His Saturday drive was 345 yards over the corner of the dogleg left 18 which set up a wonderful shot into the green and that memorable eagle-putt. Friday felt like Sunday afternoon.

 

 

He drained putts with that sawed-off, center-shafted Cameron from everywhere all weekend. His caddy's local knowledge obviously helped and he showed remarkable poise and calm on the greens.

 

 

Fujikawa captured my imagination. He was David and the cut-line was Goliath and thankfully David won. Whatever happens with Tadd's career I know I'll be following him from now on. He's sure to be noticed not for his stature but for the size of his heart.