T.J.'s Take: Thoughts, observations and questions
By T.J. Auclair, PGATOUR.com Interactive Producer
Here are my thoughts, observations and questions after the first full-field event of the PGA TOUR season.
Thoughts
• Kudos to K.J. Choi for his wire-to-wire win at the Sony Open in Hawaii. The victory was the seventh of Choi's terrific career and put him in fine company with Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson as the only players to win in four or more consecutive seasons.
• Is it just me, or is Choi one of the most underrated players on TOUR? His seven wins included two big ones in 2007 -- Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament presented by Morgan Stanley and the AT&T National hosted by Tiger Woods. Both were invitational tournaments and outside of the majors, THE PLAYERS Championship and the World Golf Championships, those two are among the most prestigious the TOUR has to offer. It may have been the inaugural AT&T National, but it has instant prestige based on the name attached to it.
• The feel-good story of Tadd Fujikawa is crashing like a monstrous wave on Oahu's North Shore. There's no question Tadd is a tremendous talent. Couple that with his charisma and enthusiasm, and he has all the makings of a superstar.
After wooing the crowds at Waialae when the youngster made the cut at the Sony Open in 2007, he missed the cut dearly this time around. Tadd's decision to turn pro in 2007 was a bad idea if there ever was one. Not to mention, he had a body of evidence to turn to and think, "Maybe I shouldn't do this."
Exhibit A: Justin Rose. It was 1998 and the venue was Royal Birkdale for the British Open. The then 17-year-old Rose thrilled the golfing world with his incredible tie for fourth and the British newspapers dubbed him as England's answer to Tiger Woods.
The next day, Rose announced he was turning professional. For the next four years, he struggled mightily in the professional ranks. Rose has found his way, but it wasn't easy and he'd be the first to tell you that.
Exhibit B: Ty Tryon. When he became the third youngest player in history (at the time) to make a cut on TOUR at 16 years, 9 months and 7 days in the 2001 Honda Classic, people were blown away by his immense talent.
Making his story even more remarkable was the fact that later that same year, Tryon made it through q-school on the number to earn a TOUR card (which he couldn't use until he turned 18 the following June). He failed to keep his status and has since become a journeyman on the mini tours. At age 24, he is married and has a child while still plugging away on the mini tours.
Exhibit C: Michelle Wie. After the public relations disaster that has been Wie, a fellow Hawaiian of Fujikawa, one would have thought Tadd would have seen firsthand why turning professional was a bad idea. Suddenly your wonderful story is drowned by the expectations that others put on you.
I understand his plight and I respect it -- he wanted to help his financially strapped family. It's been six months and Tadd has yet to cash a check as a professional. I certainly wish him the best in the future and hope he can maintain his personality despite the cynicism that comes with being a professional.
Observations
• Say what you want about Rory Sabbatini and the turmoil he's created between himself and other top players, most notably Tiger, but give credit where credit is due.
Just weeks ago, the man switched clubs from Nike to Adams Golf and switched golf balls from Nike to Callaway, yet he's ripping it up. He finished 17th at the Mercedes-Benz Championship and took sole second at the Sony Open.
Sabbatini has toned down his demeanor with the media, but not the belt buckles -- he was rocking the studded skull on Sunday, which looked bigger than the head of his driver.
Granted it's been only two weeks, but you've got to be at least mildly impressed with Sabbatini's play considering the change in equipment and the criticism he's brought upon himself.
• Steve Marino's tie for fourth at the Sony Open was the best finish of his short career on TOUR. Last year as a rookie playing in his first event as a member of the TOUR, Marino had the unfortunate distinction of being paired with Michelle Wie for the first two rounds of the Sony Open. Talk about being thrown into the fire.
Rather than fold under the pressure and fade into obscurity, Marino made the most of the opportunity and mustered a tie for 34th that week to avoid becoming nothing more than an answer to a trivia question: "Can you name one of the two men paired with Michelle Wie for the first two rounds of the Sony Open in 2007?"
What followed was a sensational rookie season that included four top-10 finishes and over $1 million in earnings. Expect to see Marino near the top of a lot of leaderboards in 2008.
Questions
• Does Steve Stricker have a fan club? If he doesn't, can we start one now and can I be the president?
Yet again, Stricker was solid as solid can be. With a 9-under-par total on the final three days of the Sony Open, Stricker finished in a tie for fourth at Waialae for the second year in a row. For those keeping track at home, that's eight top-10 finishes for Stricker in his last 12 events.
No wonder he's No. 3 in the world.
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