Danielle Tucker host of "The Golf Club" radio show broadcasting from the 2007 Hawaii Pearl Open

The world of golf is just humming along in Hawaii with the local events starting up following the "Aloha Swing" which is the beginning of the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour and following that, the LPGA Tour started it's 2007 season.

We've had Tadd Fujikawa, a 16 year old Moanalua high school student, conquer the world of golf, locally, nationally and globally at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

We've had the LPGA kick off it's season while the Champions Tour blew marched through the islands from Maui to the Big Island and on to Oahu.

We've had Tadd Fujikawa blow away the 27th Hawaii Pearl Open field with his victory at the first event of the 2007 golf season in Hawaii.

Next up, the Mid Pacific Open, on the list of really big events. Plus the Hilo Invitational will have come and gone by the time you get a chance to read this edition.

Unfortunately, Kimberly Kim didn't make the cut at the SBS Open but I'm still hoping for the Fields Open. It's after my deadline. Maybe that'll be good luck for KimKim.

We, the golf community, is even throwing a $500 dollar dinner party for the wealthiest 70 or 80 people who can afford to rub shoulders with the top LPGA players and Hawaii's "in" junior golfers. We're on the verge of either really growing the game or really alienating a lot of people who are just a little bit tired of the "hype" and then the fall of those who are on the "who's hot" and then the "who's not" lists.

I can't say I blame them. But that's the price we pay as golf has gone "global". Here's a little sample of how you can tell.

The London Daily Mail was reporting on an alleged "cat fight" between Tiger Woods and PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem over the date of the Tiger World Challenge. The "Mail" reports Woods wants to move his event to November but Finchem won't let him. The London Daily Mail alleges that is why Woods didn't come to Hawaii for the Mercedes-Benz Championship and skipped the Nissan Open. It was to get even with the Commissioner. The Tiger Woods Foundation spokesman says there hasn't even been talk to moving the date. But that's not what sells newspapers is it.

My favorite story this past month was about the golfer who was so desperate to retrieve his golf ball from a water hazard, he took on the resident alligator. The golf course even had local rule allowing golfers to respot their ball a safe distance from the #5 hole water hazard the alligator had taken up residence. Mr. Vernon Messier apparently thought his golf ball was more important until the gator came out of the water to argue over turf rights. Messier was able to drive himself to the hospital and is in good condition. The alligator was lured from his water hazard home by an expert alligator catcher using cow dung. Fortunately for me, Messier is going to recover because I find myself chuckling whenever I think of the cow dung and Messier. Could this story get any ‘messier'?

Mr. Vernon, listen to "The Golf Club". You can win Titleist Pro V's.

Tadd Fujikawa the 2007 Hawaii Pearl Open

But let's get back to the really big news. The news that took the Pearl Country Club to the national stage, to "The Golf Channel", when 16 year old Tadd Fujikawa came from behind to win the 2007 Hawaii Pearl Open.

Fujikawa had already wowed the national and international audience with his fantastic ability to be graceful, cheerful and inspiring while becoming the youngest golfer in 50 years to make the cut at a PGA Tour event at the 2007 Sony Open in Hawaii. Then he floored that same audience by finishing the event close to the top of the leaderboard.

Following that major feat, this past February 11th, Fujikawa shows the same cheerful tenacity and this time he wins the 29th Hawaii Pearl Open.

Tadd Fujikawa at the 2007 Hawaii Pearl Open

Fujikawa, a 16 year old Moanalua high school student, beats the professionals from the Japan Tour and the U.S mainland, including four time Hawaii Pearl Open winner Greg Meyer. "Gorigori" Meyer, as he is affectionately known in Japan, has a wonderful sense of humor. He asked Fujikawa to stay an amateur as long as possible. That's because Meyer was awarded the $12,000 first place check since amateurs don't get the cash. Instead, Fujikawa held up two trophies, one for winning the event outright and one for being the top amateur in the field!

Tadd Fujikawa with his many fans at the 2007 Hawaii Pearl Open

Fujikawa has been on my golf show, "The Golf Club", after all of his amazing feats this past year. After his amazing performance at the U.S. Open, after his record breaking performance at the Sony Open and after his win at the Hawaii Pearl Open. We got to talking about his performance at the Pearl Country Club. He showed some of that temper he has with himself when he doesn't perform up to his own expectations. And he said he made a lot of stupid mistakes that cost him a number of strokes on the way to his win. If you get a chance, you can listen to our conversation at www.radiogolfclub.com, my website where the show can be heard while you are working on your computer either live or from the archives.

There was another junior golfer in the Pearl Open field. Sean Maekawa who has known Fujikawa for years playing junior golf, both here and at mainland events. Maekawa says he is really amazed at how much Fujikawa has improved in just the last year.

Tadd Fujikawa

What's in Fujikawa's future? He says he is going to take it easy for the next month. Kick back and relax. He'll take on the HPLGA 4-Ball at Makalena He'll play on the high school golf team, focus on mainly junior golf tournaments, with the exemption of a couple PGA events, a couple of mainland talk shows, at little meet and greet at the $500 per person Hawaii State Junior Golf Association fundraiser at Sub-Zero/Wolf, and some autograph signing at the 23rd Great Aloha Run Festival at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. What's it going to be like when he really ramps it up?

2007 LPGA Player of the Year Lorena Ochoa at the SBS Open with Danielle Tucker

That Fujikawa "taking it easy" list included playing in both of the LPGA Pro Am's, at the Fields Open and at the SBS Open at Turtle Bay, the first full field event on the LPGA Tour. A friend of his, Taylore Karle who made it through the qualifying event, invited him to play after her father ponied up the cash for a Pro Am foursome, just in case Taylore didn't make the cut. Golfweek's location blogger wrote up a great article about Tadd Fujikawa. This remarkable young man showed up with roses (it was Valentine's Day) for Kimberly Kim, Taylore Karle and his Pro playing partner, Laura Davies.

LPGA player Laura Davies

Golfweek's on site reporter called it a "smashfest of sorts" with two 16 year olds trying to outdo the longest hitter in the women's game. Davies says when she and Tadd hit it "properly" Tadd has her by at least 40 yards. Fujikawa told me Saturday, February 17th, that Davies hits it about 40 yards further than he does. "The Golf Club's man in the know, caddie master Jeff Ferry says the real buzz was that they both hit it about the same distance, with Fujikawa maybe 20 yards longer. But what's a few yards between newly made friendships on a Pro Am day! By the way, Golfweek's tenth ranked Karle isn't bad either. One of her nicknames is "The Hammer". In the 2005 U.S. Girls first round, Karle earned herself a USGA qualifying record for all events. She scored rounds of 63 and 67 for a 12 under 130. She is currently cramming two years of high school into one so she can join her brother a year early at Pepperdine with both of them playing on golf scholarships. Pepperdine is an advanced, modern campus on the slopes above Malibu.

Karle says she teaches herself through a long distance program. Of this self taught method, Karle says "it's kind of a struggle but it's definitely making her stronger." Karle says she loves the cameras, the interviews, loves her friend Tadd, whom she call's "Superman" and she hopes he gets even more of the spotlight.

Fukijawa says Davies was a lot of fun to play with. She talks trash with the best of them, particularly when one of the "Am's" made a particularly poor putt. Fujikawa says his playing partner was lucky it happened on one of the last holes. Davies couldn't help but tell the unlucky soul "that might be the worst putt I've ever seen!" Who hasn't heard that one.

SBS Open leaderboard outside the Turtle Bay Resort on Saturday, February 17, 2007

The leaderboard for the SBS Open remained remarkably American considering how many Koreans have won at Turtle Bay since the event began.

Just three golf bags getting ready for the SBS Open show the international flavor of the LPGA Tour

Australian Karrie Webb was coming off two major wins down under before the LPGA Tour began in Hawaii. She was also in contention on Saturday as she goes for the worlds number one spot this year. She is third behind Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa.

Webb says if it's done tastefully, there is no reason why sex can't sell golf. American Natalie Gulbis, also at the top of the leaderboard on Saturday, was invited to add glamour to the Australian Open. Webb says she doesn't think there is anything wrong with taking an opportunity to promote themselves and the sport as long as it is done tastefully.

Natalie Gulbis at the 2007 SBS Open

At the end of Saturday, it was Paula Creamer who held on to the lead in the end, despite the high wind and blowing rain.

Check out the flag blowing sideways at the Turtle Bay Arnold Palmer Course on Saturday, the final day of the SBS Open, broadcast to Korea and many other foreign countries, where it was already Sunday.

Paula Creamer wins the 2007 SBS Open

Nice way to start the year and head off to The Fields Open at Ko Olina.

We often thank the sponsors and the volunteers and the players for showing up at the major events that come to Hawaii and show off our beautiful island settings to television audiences around the world. One man who isn't thanked enough is the man who takes care of the media who cover these events in every language you can imagine.

His name is Bill Bachran. He is a gentleman with more patience than any person I've met. He is on the site before the event begins before 5 AM and doesn't close up the media center until after dark.

The leaderboard at the SBS Open at Turtle Bay Resort

Bill Bachran, media relations for the Sony Open, the Turtle Bay Championship, the SBS Open and plus this year lending his expertise at the Fields Open.

In Los Angeles, the crowd figured it was going to be the second victory for Phil Mickleson of 2007. He was in command at the Nissan Open in Los Angeles. The weather was good. Mickleson's driver and his putter were working, some say on fire, but there was still Padraig Harrington, dogging his every move and a very close second.

Charles Howell III fighting for the lead at the 2007 Nissan Open in Los Angeles.

Yea, Charles Howell III was also holding on to third going into the weekend but that's been a common sight the last few years, last year in particular. Close to every weekend, there was Charlie in the top ten on the leaderboard. The young man who hasn't been able to catch a break for over four years finally did.

Charles Howell III

Audio Clip (.swf)

Howell III says a playoff against Phil Mickleson is tough!

But there he was, in a forced playoff, coming out of the stretch after 18 on Sunday. Howell III had three feet of green standing between him and the playoff victory at the Nissan Open and he made it beating Mickleson plus Jim Furyk, Ernie Els and Robert Allenby all tied for third. It's been 4 and a half years and nine runner up finishes since his one PGA Tour victory. And just last month, right here at the Sony Open in Hawaii, just one stroke from victory. After the ball rolled in after the three foot putt and the victory, Howell raised his head and closed his eyes in relief.

Audio Clip (.swf)

Phil Mickleson said it's like getting the mistakes over with before the majors.

Thank you to the Nissan Open Tournament Audio Service presented by the Sheraton Delfina.

For Howell III, it isn't easy being the rookie arriving to huge headlines and full of expectations from people around and on the PGA Tour. Full of promise as they say, guaranteed to be the rival the PGA Tour is so desperately looking for to take on Tiger Woods, with a entourage of 18 including putting and swing coaches, dietician, appearance and media coaches, to name a few, Howell III hasn't lived up to the expectations of the arm chair "drivers".

It's one thing to come out of college and join the NFL and have a stunning rookie year. You'd better, in a ten year lifespan game.

But to come out of college and stun the men on the PGA Tour in a lifetime spanning game, that's a whole different kettle of fish. The young PGA Tour players are competing against 144 very talented, hard working, seasoned veterans who know how to psyche you out over a long 4 or 5 days of competition in addition to the "off" time in the locker room and on the practice range.

Michelle Wie may be out of action on the golf course but she is certainly in the middle of the action in Las Vegas at the NBA All Star game on February 18, 2007. Wie was in Las Vegas for Nike and the release of the latest hot shoe, the Air Jordan Areas XX2

Michelle Wie with LeBron James (Getty Images)

With a hard cast on one wrist and a wrap on the other, there is no word on exactly when Wie will begin this season. Her team has said she'll be out until the wrist is well healed.

As far as missing Michelle Wie at the Fields Open, SBS Open runner up Julieta Granada said "I always want to compete against the best and she always has a great game. But since she's not here, we really can't say much about it." Granada, who won $1,000,000 during , the ADT Championships, the last event of the LPGA season last year, came down with flu like symptoms after the SBS Open. Not surprising, considering the wind, rain and stress of competition.

She didn't play her practice round but hopes to get enough sleep and rest before her late tee time in the first round of the three round event. We'll be there for all the action and hope to see Kimberly Kim make it to the final round this weekend.

Here's another headline that sounds familiar. Could this be the end of the Turtle Bay Championship after 2008?

Fred Funk, 2007 Turtle Bay Championship Champion

During my golf show, "The Golf Club", at the Turtle Bay Resort on the Saturday of the Champions Tour event, tournament director John Dowd said the Turtle Bay Resort wasn't looking for a title sponsor for the event because the Resort was in the black.

Quoting from an article by Paul Arnett in the Star Bulletin, "One Champions Tour official, who requested anonymity, said Sunday that Turtle Bay got what it wanted from the senior circuit event, and that's a bottom line that's now in the black. ‘They don't need us old guys any more,' he said. ‘Hopefully, we can get something done that keeps the tournament right where it is.'"

This conversation apparently came after Fred Funk and 2006 Turtle Bay Champ Loren Roberts head dinner with a prospective sponsor on Saturday night to see if a deal can be reached that extends beyond the final year of the current contract.

In the same article printed on Tuesday, January 30th, 2007, Arnett writes the Champions Tour official said that talks are under way to move it [the first full field event on the Champions Tour] to Kaanapali.

I got in touch with Champions Tour media relations representative Dave Senko. I asked him about the article in the Star Bulletin and the need for a title sponsor. Here's a portion of his response:

"I saw the same article and not sure where Paul got all his information. I believe we have a contract through next year at TB and I think the Tour would like to remain there. The players all seem to enjoy the course and the date and everything seems to work out for our players perfectly. They can go from Hualalai to Honolulu pretty easily.

I think everyone would like to find a title sponsor, however. Almost every event needs one and they are working to find one as far as I know.

I am not privy many times to what goes on behind the scenes, however. I wish I could say I was, but that is about all I know right now. Not sure I fully answered your question, but hope this is helpful."

Our friend David Wood got his wish. His new book chronicling his incredible adventures around the world in 80 rounds got picked up at auction and will be published by St. Martin's Press. He'll be on the show this month, March.

Michael Patrick Shiels, our travel correspondent and the voice of morning radio in Michigan, Michigan State Radio that is, will be communing in Ireland on St. Patrick's Day and sharing his joy with us this month. Last month, he was sharing the joys of Colorado golf in Vail. Did you know you can go skiing and play a round of golf, just 20 minutes apart, on the same day, during parts of the year in Vail? Kind of like Switzerland, where it's still snow bound in Davos while the flowers are blooming in the Ticino.

Until next time, "thank you for your Mana and may you hit the sweet spot every time" and I'll see you "on top the radio".

Danielle

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