Sony Open Wrapup
It took Paul Goydos a second place finish in his 2006 season finale to retain his Tour card and escape Q-School, and allow himself the opportunity to find the winner’s circle for the first time in eleven years.
Goydos flew under the radar for much of the Sony Open. He and Luke Donald held the 36 hole lead, but after an even par third round Goydos’ name would not come up until late on the final day. On Sunday the 15th hole saw Goydos grab a share of the lead for the first time since Friday night. Final round leader Charles Howell III could not retain his two shot lead entering the final nine holes when he finished with two back nine bogeys; while Goydos ended his final round with birdies on three out of his final four holes.
Goydos’ win was his first victory since the Bay Hill Invitational in 1996. This win coupled with his second place finish at last year’s Chrysler Classic are a combined first and second place, astonishing for a player who has not won since ‘96. But, this individual feat was outshined by the play of two Hawaiians.
16 year-old LPGA pro Michelle Wie entered the Sony Open the way she always has...a sponsor’s exemption. 16 year-old Tadd Fujikawa entered the Sony Open like most unknown amateurs... by qualifying. Two different entries -- two different results.
Michelle Wie started her Sony Open with the perennial hype whether this will be the year she breaks through and makes a cut at a PGA Tour event. This hype is now in its fourth year and to the dismay of those sponsors, Wie finished in 139th place and missed the cut with rounds of 78 and 76 (14 over par). It was not the play of this teenage Hawaiian that got the fans’ attention, it was another.
Tadd Fujikawa qualified for the Sony Open with little fan fare. He started his Sony Open with a one over par 71, again, no one noticed. But on Friday the Hawaiian fans saw something exciting out of one of their own. Fujikawa burst on to the professional golfing scene with a second round 66, ending birdie - par - eagle to make the cut by three strokes. Fujikawa was the second youngest player ever to make a PGA Tour cut, but was not satisfied with just making the cut. Fans on Saturday saw another Fujikawa 66 and at the end of the day he was in a tie for 8th place and only six strokes off the lead. Sunday brought Fujikawa back to earth. The largest Sunday crowds did not follow Vijay Singh or third round leader Charles Howell or eventual winner Paul Goydos, they followed Fujikawa. Similar to crowds Tiger Woods experiences or a US Open final round gallery, the Sony Open fans saw Fujikawa shoot a two over 72 and finish in a tie for 20th place.
Goydos’ win vaulted him into second place on the FedExCup series standings, 121 points behind its leader. Vijay Singh’s tie for 34th place allowed him to stay atop the FedExCup for the second consecutive week. This week the PGA Tour travels to the Palm Desert for the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, check-in with hookedongolf.com for updates and results.
