http://www.golftribune.com en-us N/A robert@cfx.org Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:29:36 CDT 20 http://www.golftribune.com/blogs/5/PGA-Tour039s-Future-Players-Like-Tadd-Fujikawa.html If the PGA Tour has any concerns about its future popularity, it should spend considerable resources cultivating and encouraging young players to emulate another young player, Tadd Fujikawa.

Fujikawa, 17, played in his 10th professional tournament at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am last week (Feb. 7-10). He missed the 54-hole by the cut 13 strokes at 12-under 228, which included an 81 second round at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

But it didn't seem to faze the young golfer. Fujikawa smiled at spectators, shook hands with tournament officials and made quick friends with pro surfing champion Kelly Slater, one of the young celebrities in the field.

Despite his newcomer status and his at-ease personality, Fujikawa's unique young life and quick ascension in golf have been well documented and would give credence to him not being what he is — mature beyond his years.

Fujikawa was born three months premature, weighing 1 pound and 15 ounces. He was given a 50 percent chance of survival. Had five operations in six months and then began to rapidly thrive. His early years were highlighted by his championship judo skills, but his early life tribulations and his family genes contributed to a slight stature. He's 5-foot-1.

Two years ago, still age 15 and an amateur, Fujikawa qualified for the U.S. Open and garnered a good share of media attention before missing the cut by nine strokes.

Last January, Fujikawa became the second-youngest player to make a PGA Tour cut at the Sony Open. He played into as high as fourth place early in the tournament before finishing 20th.

He turned pro last to help support his family and to suport himself while trying to compete globally in top-level tournaments. While still under age 18, Fujikawa has the opportunity to play in the seven PGA Tour events this season under the guidelines of his "unrestricted sponsor's exemption."

And although he doesn't know when he'll next play on the PGA Tour, his agent Kevin Sell said d his client will likely also compete on European Tour, Asian Tour, Nationwide Tour and other PGA Tour events this season.

Fujikawa was grouped with pro Brian Bateman and amateurs Murray Bodine, an investment banker from San Francisco, and Hall of Fame football player Lynn Swann.

Fujikawa had an opening-round, par 72 at Spyglass Hill, beating more than half the field. But his putting faltered often in second two rounds.

The Honolulu golfer spent several practice sessions focusing on his putting while using a box-like metal pad with tees called a Pathfinder. Fujikawa was given the putting gadget by a PGA Tour representing following Wednesday’s practice round.

“I took a lot of positives out of this tournament,” said Fujikawa, who in addition to his agent, was accompanied by his mother and an uncle. “I feel great about my golf. I do, I really do. I’m really excited to play my next event. I have a little bit more work and I should be right there.”

Fujikawa has no current plans for another PGA Tour event. His next scheduled tournament is a Japanese Tour event at the end of May in which he also competed last year.

And I know one thing: If I were a PGA Tour event organizer with a sponsor's exemption at my disposal, I'd do my best to invite him.]]> no@spam.com (James Raia) Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:00:00 CST http://www.golftribune.com/blogs/5/PGA-Tour039s-Future-Players-Like-Tadd-Fujikawa.html http://www.golftribune.com/blogs/4/The-Best-Thing-For-Tigers-Woods-Lose-The-US-Open.html With about the same velocity as one of his drives, the word began to spread quickly two weeks at Torrey Pines Golf Course — and everywhere else in the golf world.

If Tiger Woods can win the Buick Invitational for the fourth straight year and in such commanding fashion, what's likely to happen in four  months?

That's, of course, when the U.S. Open will be held at Torrey Pines. For only the second time since the tournament began in 1895, the June 12-15 event will be held on a municipal layout, the South Course at the La Jolla, Calif., facility.

It's the same place Woods played countless times during his youth, and it's where Woods statistically and logically should be the prohibitive favorite this summer.

The United States Golf Association (U.S.G.A.), not the PGA Tour, sets courses for its championships. That means the Torrey Pines layout will have tighter fairways, longer rough and faster greens for the U.S. Open than the course configuration for the Buick Invitational.

In 2000, the last time a PGA Tour event and U.S. Open were played on the same course, the varying layouts made little difference. Woods won the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and returned to Pebble Beach a few months later to dominate the U.S. Open.

And considering the U.S. Open has been won for the past four years by international players, it's only fitting that the title returns to an American's mantel via the world's No. 1 player, right?

Actually, no.

As he continues his inevitable bolt past Jack Nicklaus for all-time PGA Tour career wins (73) and major titles (18), what would be best for golf at the U.S. Open is not another victory for Woods.

At age 32, Woods will continue to dominate the sport for several years. But in the most prestigious United States tournament what would more impressive and more invigorating for golf is if someone challenges Woods in the waning holes on the final round and then beats him.

Nothing against Woods, really. But if an unheralded newcomer, a veteran seeking his first U.S. Open title like Phil Mickelson or a former recent titlist like Jim Furyk were to defeat Woods on the final day, it would afford the World's No. 1 player a great opportunity.

Woods is great in victory. He has his fist pump, stoic stare and great smile. But the legacy of someone in Woods' position is solidified in how he handles defeat, not unchallenged victory.]]> no@spam.com (James Raia) Sun, 10 Feb 2008 00:00:00 CST http://www.golftribune.com/blogs/4/The-Best-Thing-For-Tigers-Woods-Lose-The-US-Open.html http://www.golftribune.com/blogs/3/Young-Babes-In-The-Fairway-a-It039s-Not-Always-Good.html With all due respect to her remarkable young poise, there's no better example of why teenage golfers shouldn't turn professional than Michelle Wie.

And with equal respect to the LPGA and PGA Tours, whose tournaments I've been reporting on for more than 25 years, maybe the fault in young pro golfers turning pro and then floundering doesn't have so much to do with the golfers and their respective parents as it does with organizations in whose tournaments they're competing.

Wie wasn't the first teenager to turn pro. But she's certainly the most visible and the most controversial. In short, for a golfer of such talent, she's failing.

But what's more alarming is that the more she misses cut or hurts her wrist or cries on camera, the more the media, particularly broadcast media, still devourers her every move. And tournament officials still seek her participation.

And just what is it about the odd marriage between the sponsors who want Wie in events, the network executive who want rankings and the LPGA that wants increased exposure. Can they be that greedy?

It's different on the PGA Tour. Its popularity is unfairly but truthfully tied to the playing schedule of Tiger Woods. But a few years ago, there was a young pro named Ty Tryon. Remember him? Didn't he make a cut or two in PGA Tour events at age 16? Young Ty isn't in the news much anymore, is he?

Of course, individuals are all different and young golfers, seeking the fame and fortunes of professional golf, will all mature differently.

But it's getting harder to watch and read about Michelle Wie. No one is forcing her to play exactly, unless, the pressure of Nike, networks and tournament sponsors might just have some influence. You think?

She's getting paid millions, but at the same time is getting used.

The LPGA and PGA Tour can't and shouldn't have the responsibility for the success and failure rates of young, skilled players and their quick catapulted into adulthood.

But both the LPGA and PGA like to believe they're at the forefront pro sports. The buzz term is proactive. If so, here something to consider:

I don't have all the details figured out, but wouldn't it be ideal if the Tours initiated a "big-brother" or "big-sister" initiative to guide young players?

It could be voluntary, course. The Tours could ask veteran players if they want to be involved. The veteran players could, even with limited time involvement, offer their expertise. The could guide the teenage pros in the ways of pro golf world — playing pitfalls to media pressure.

Young players will still have to find their own way, of course. But it sure couldn't hurt if those who've been down the path that is pro golf, could help the trek a little smoother for the babes in the fairway.
]]> no@spam.com (James Raia) Fri, 07 Sep 2007 00:00:00 CDT http://www.golftribune.com/blogs/3/Young-Babes-In-The-Fairway-a-It039s-Not-Always-Good.html http://www.golftribune.com/blogs/2/Scott-Simpson-On-Golf-Wine-Miracles-And-Christ.html Scott Simpson is one of the nicest professional golfers I've met.

Years ago, while working on a lengthy article for PGA Tour Partners magazine on players' faith, Simpson, among other golfers, talked freely about his misgivings about Christianity and then how he became involved in the PGA Tour's Bible study meetings and his subsequent discovery of faith.

I interviewed Simpson again about a week ago for the cover story of the Monterey County Herald's pre-tournament tabloid section of the Wal-Mart First Tee Open. Simpson returned my phone calls twice and we spoke a few times during fourth annual event at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Del Monte Golf Course.

Simpson was the defending titlist of the event, but he's not had particularly good season. Still, his top-five finish at this year's event pushed him closer toward his goal of finishing among the top-30 money leaders and a qualifying spot at the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup in Sonoma, California, at the end of September.

Just after he finIshed the final round, Simpson and I had the following conversation just off the green at the 18th hole of Pebble Beach.

Simpson: "I love playing in Northern California, so anytime I can it's great."

Me: "Well, if you go to Sonoma, that's where some of best wines . . . oh, I'm sorry, Scott. You probably don't drink wine."

Simpson: "What do you, mean (chuckling?). What was Christ's first miracle."

Now with the both of us laughing (and with me turning the shade of the wine Simpson was discussing) we shook hands again, I thanked him for his time and we parted company.]]> no@spam.com (James Raia) Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 CDT http://www.golftribune.com/blogs/2/Scott-Simpson-On-Golf-Wine-Miracles-And-Christ.html