An 81 Is Nice for a 15-Year-Old

Tadd Fujikawa of Hawaii shot 11-over-par 81 on Thursday and found out after his round that he really was, at age 15, the youngest player to compete in a U.S. Open.

“Really?” Fujikawa said when informed. “Oh wow, that’s pretty nice.”

The U.S. Golf Assn. previously had identified Tyrell Garth Jr. as the youngest player, believing him to be 14 when he competed in the 1941 U.S. Open at Colonial Country Club. The USGA put out a release, however, saying that it learned Garth was actually born June 9, 1925, meaning he was only four days shy of his 16th birthday when he competed in the championship.

Fujikawa grew up in a hurry at Winged Foot Golf Club, a course that isn’t meant for kids. His scorecard had 10 pars, five bogeys and three doubles.

Tough day?

“It was a lot of fun today, actually,” Fujikawa said.

He said he wasn’t that nervous, not even on the first tee.

“I think just knowing that all the people are behind you and supporting you, it makes you feel good inside,” he said.

And really, how much worse did Fujikawa do than Tiger Woods?

Fujikawa recently completed his freshman year at Moanalua High.

His goal next year, obviously, is to avoid the sophomore jinx. *

Local knowledge: Andrew Svoboda of nearby New Rochelle estimated that, as a kid, he played an average of 150 rounds a year at Winged Foot, where his father was a member.

Svoboda, who made it through sectional qualifying last week at Canoe Brook Country Club in New Jersey, used his experience to shoot 75 Thursday.

“I think 75 is a pretty good score out there,” Svoboda said.

He should know.

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Call him Mr. Sandman: You might be surprised how much energy it takes competing for a major championship.

Three-time major champion Phil Mickelson said this week he can barely keep his eyes open in the days following an important tournament.

“You don’t notice it during the event because whether you have adrenaline or whether your mind is just elsewhere, you don’t focus on it,” Mickelson said. “But come Monday morning, I usually try to stay in bed for three or four days just to try to recover from it and relax.”

Three or four days?

“Yeah, staying in bed, watching TiVo.”

*

Opening day wasn’t too kind to players from Northwestern. Luke Donald (class of 2001) shot a 78 and Dillon Dougherty (class of 2006) shot an 85. Dougherty, 23, who caddied for Woods at Stanford as a teen, shot a 44 on the back nine.

*

After his one-over 71, Vijay Singh sounded a warning that the greens could use a little water.

“There’s a few greens out there, even 18, that’s getting a little bit too crusty, so they’ve got to watch it,” he said. “[The USGA] always turn up on Wednesday and say what a great setup, Thursday is the same and then it starts getting a little over the edge.”