The Taddmanian devil. RazzamaTadd. Even Taddyboy.

At school, 16-year-old Tadd Fujikawa answers to them all.

But lately he's also being called Superman on the Moanalua High School campus where he's the star of the golf team and gaining wider popularity after a dazzling performance in the Sony Open in Hawai'i at the Waialae Country Club over the weekend.

"He sure put our school on the map this year," said junior Taylor Shimomura, 16, one of Fujikawa's teammates on the Moanalua golf team coached by Joshua Suapaia.

But as the pint-sized powerhouse returned to classes after winter recess yesterday, the school administration was trying to keep a lid on the excitement so classes could go on as usual.

That was hard to do, though, with media cameras whirring and Mayor Mufi Hannemann expected to stop by to present Fujikawa with a proclamation. Even golf coach Suapaia admits the overall excitement has gone from "Hey, you're that kid" after his earlier performance in the U.S. Open to "mass hysteria" after last weekend.

A hastily organized press conference brought the young man with the killer putter and blazing smile within arm's length of cameras and questions to talk about everything from his struggle to survive at birth as a 1-pound, 15-ounce preemie — "If it wasn't for my parents and family and doctors I wouldn't be here," he said — to the ritual he uses just before he swings.

"Before every shot I close my eyes and visualize it going into the hole. ... It helps calm myself down and keep me focused."

His involvement with judo has built strength and concentration, said Fujikawa, and helped give him confidence and the ability to tune out pressure. Fujikawa also plays and enjoys team sports but said he prefers the solo aspect of golf and judo.

"It's all you," he said. "I like that. If you make a mistake, there's no one to blame but yourself."

While acting principal Robin Martin said she is "proud that Tadd has made the school look so good," she told reporters that under Department of Education rules she had no permission to allow them to randomly talk to students, other than two fellow golf teammates whose parents had given permission.

One of them, Shimomura, praised the school's golf program and said there are even younger players than Tadd coming on strong.

"Hawai'i has so much talent," said Shimomura, who has been playing seriously for three or four years. "You go out to any golf course and kids are hitting balls. I'm pretty sure kids now want to be like Tadd."

Fujikawa said that while he hopes now to play the major tournaments, as well as junior golf at a national level, he admitted that "never in my wildest dreams" did he imagine making the cut and playing the tournament at Waialae.

And he's thrilled to be another young golfer making news in Hawai'i.

"We all want to do Hawai'i proud," he said. "It's really good for Hawai'i — to get out there and get Hawai'i on the board ... We've added one more point to the list."

But he's also been surprised at the overwhelming support.

"It's unbelievable how many people from Hawai'i are supporting you," he said. "I didn't expect the support and the people rooting for me.

"My mom is getting phone calls from everywhere."

Some of those calls, he said, offer sponsorship, including help in paying for equipment.

Such decisions will come after family discussions.

"I'll talk it out with my parents and take it one step at a time," said Fujikawa.

In a quick comparison with Michelle Wie, Fujikawa pointed out, "she's taller and she's a girl."

Wie, another Hawai'i teen golf sensation, is 6-feet-1 while Fujikawa is 5-1.

"A lot of people say short people can't do as well," he said. "Being tall is helpful. But short people can do well, too. It's just more challenging.

"With determination to do our best, we can do anything. ... My parents have told me to stick with it and never give up and always stay focused."

School friends and golf teammates were in the crowd at Waialae over the weekend, and yesterday were telling him "I saw you on TV. ... You're famous," he said. But it hasn't changed his easygoing grace around campus or the way the other students react to him.

"They all treat me the same way," he said.

Teammate Kristina Merkle, a 15-year-old sophomore, had tracked him around the course over the weekend, cheering him on and offering high fives.

"I was screaming for him," she said.

Merkle, who swung her first club as a toddler, sees the sport growing among young people because of young golfers like Fujikawa.

"Thanks to Tadd I think more people are going to play the sport," said Merkle. "Golf is a good way to get a scholarship."

Fujikawa has been an inspiration for the Moanalua team, said coach Suapaia, and always takes time to give the others tips, chip with them, or help them with their approach to difficult shots.

"He's always giving them little tips, like maybe putting technique and the way to go into a certain swing," said Suapaia. He called Fujikawa "just one of those guys amazing to see" — a golfer who is "the most mentally able to handle pressure and take it in stride."

He also called him "a great kid" who is really friendly "and not a superstar."

Fujikawa said it was a cousin of his mother's who first got him involved in golfing by taking him to the driving range to hit balls. He liked the sport from the start.

He's going to be backing away from team play this year to focus on school work and some of the bigger tournaments. "Sorry," he said, turning to Suapaia.

Having no coach at the moment, he said, he'll be working with his mom, who knows a lot about golf.

"Now it's just me, my mom and the video camera," said Fujikawa.

Suapaia said it's hard to teach what Fujikawa has naturally, saying much of his strength seems to come from the support he has always received at home.

"His family gives him the idea that anything can be done," he said.

Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com.