On Friday, Jan. 12, Tadd Fujikawa walked into Waialae Country Club for the second round of the Sony Open in Hawai'i. His world had changed by the time he walked out with that remarkable smile.

Fujikawa's world changed again yesterday, as the 16-year-old stood on Waialae's lanai, his back to the Pacific Ocean, and announced to a crowd of about 20 family and media that he would "pursue a golf career as a professional."

It was a family decision made after six months of suffocating attention and soul-searching. It was ultimately Tadd's decision, with the unconditional support of parents Lori and Derrick, who freely admit to their trepidation.

From that moment Jan. 12, when Tadd became the second-youngest in history to make a PGA Tour cut, their lives have been turned upside down. Offers and options have come at a frantic pace. Decisions have been beyond difficult.

"You can't imagine what it's been like ..." Lori said. "It was really back and forth, back and forth. It seemed like such a short time, but when you think about it, as soon as you wake up until the time you go to sleep, every single day (since January), that's basically what I did.

"Tadd kept saying, 'This is really what I want to do. How am I going to get better, how am I going to get better? We can't afford it.' That's true."

It came down to Tadd's wish to "pursue my dream" and the family's feeling that, in order not to hold him back and still afford to live in Hawai'i, they had to let him go pro.

The family returned two weeks ago from Georgia, where Tadd worked with swing, putting and fitness coaches at Sea Island Golf Learning Center, geared for PGA Tour pros.

The trip cost $10,000. The Fujikawas figured they would have to go to the center four times a year for the proper training. As an amateur, Tadd also could not accept financial assistance to professional events.

"It's not about making a bunch of money," said Kapalua's Mark Rolfing, a golf analyst. "It's how do I getter, and I think this is the right way.

"There have been a bunch of offers. You've got to match up the offer and motivation behind the offer with your motivation. If your motivation is to get better, you don't need a pile of corporate sponsors. You need instruction, experience, opportunities to play in different conditions. That doesn't cost millions of dollars, but it costs more than I'm sure the Fujikawas can afford right now."

That memorable week in January, when Fujikawa fought his way into the top five before finishing 20th at the Sony, TV analyst and major champion Nick Faldo told him, "You have the game to play out here as of right now."

Fujikawa, also the youngest to ever play in the U.S. Open in 2006 and this year's Hawai'i Pearl Open champion, took him at his word. Asked how he finally convinced his parents turning pro at such a tender age was the right thing to do, he grinned.

"Begged, I guess," he said. "For all of us, it's been a really tough decision. ... As of now, there is no going back. I'm taking the offer and running, I guess."

At his age, all this can be is an educated guess. The family has hired Kevin Bell, from the Virginia law firm of Patton Boggs LLP, to act as Tadd's attorney-agent. They first consulted Bell four months ago, anxious about keeping amateur Tadd's status.

"I think Lori really just needed to unload to someone else and explain what she was going through," Bell recalled. "That something that was exciting had started to become this heavy burden."

Many approached the family about serving as an agent if Tadd turned pro. The Fujikawas already felt comfortable with Bell, who seemed to "know more about Tadd than we did" after the initial meetings, and fully understood their predicament, according to a family member.

"The financial side is that they just cannot afford to be moving along and trying to get Tadd further along in his career," Bell said. "And they definitely don't want to do anything to hold him back. ... At the same time, they don't want to do anything to affect him as their son."

Reaction has been fast, and sometimes furious, around the world. "The big issue is of his age and is that a mistake," Bell said. "It's a good question to ask."

It is the first thing Punahou graduate, and PGA Tour pro, Parker McLachlin thought about when the Golf Channel "blindsided" him after his round at the John Deere Classic yesterday to ask about Hawai'i's newest, and youngest, professional.

"I thought, 'Why?' " McLachlin said. "The things Michelle (Wie) has been going through should speak loud and clear. I'm 28 and in my first year on the PGA Tour. I know I have my entire life in front of me. I don't wish I'd started pursuing this 12 years ago."

McLachlin also was adamant about "wishing the best" for the Fujikawas and wanted the family to know "everybody is rooting for Tadd and wishing nothing but success for him."

He hopes for the best, but can't get over the fears he has faced through his amateur and professional careers.

"It's tough because you can see the Fujikawas are between a rock and a hard place," McLachlin said. "The cost of living is so high in Hawai'i, and so are professional-grade teachers and fitness and mental instructors. It's not cheap.

"I totally understand they want to help Tadd any way they can and help him pursue his dream, but it sure seems there's got to be consideration for the big picture and state of his golf game. There might be something overlooked in the decision process. This is hard for me to fathom ... turning pro at 16. Have times changed that much?"

The teaching pros at Sea Island taught Fujikawa at the level of a "six- to eight-year pro." His life is now in fast-forward. His professional debut will be at the PGA Tour's Reno-Tahoe Open, Aug. 2 to 5.

From there, it is still up in the air for the 5-foot-1, 155-pound Moanalua High School junior who can hit a golf ball 320 yards on a line, nearly all the time.

The family is working with the school to try and figure a schedule that will allow Tadd to graduate with his class, though there is the possibility of online work or even a GED.

"I'm definitely going to try and finish high school," Fujikawa said yesterday, then grinned and corrected himself. "I'd better finish high school."

He also spoke of college, "I'm just not sure when."

In between, he talked of playing on the PGA, Nationwide, Japan and other major tours, with Bell saying interest from Japan was particularly high. The Disney Golf Classic in October is one good possibility.

The attorney also talked about good fits for his client in terms of endorsements, such as sports drinks and electronics companies. There has been "significant interest from companies based in the United State and Asia," according to the official release.

So far, the Fujikawas say there are no commitments beyond Reno-Tahoe.

Mostly, what Tadd spoke of in his very low-key — red shoes, shorts and no notes — press conference was his dream to be the best in the world. And being relieved that he could help his family pursue his passion.

"It's going to be a lot easier," he said.

Maybe, maybe not.

"I think what's happening to Michelle would give everyone pause," Bell said. "But I think everyone needs to be reminded and put it in perspective that Michelle is still a great golfer. She's going through tough times, but in two years, one year, six months, we could all be singing a different song about her. She is a great golfer. She is established.

"Of course it gives you pause, and Tadd knows there will be comparisons because both are from Hawai'i. He feels, aside from that, anything else is not a good comparison. He has not experienced some things like she has experienced ... but I think he has learned something from it. I'd have to believe everyone has learned from it."

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.