Like all high school seniors, Tadd Fujikawa is making tough decisions. But while his Moanalua High School classmates are choosing between colleges and other career directions, Fujikawa has settled on a golf tour to try in 2009.

Fujikawa, who turned pro at 16, has received an exemption through the first stage of the Japan Golf Tour Organization qualifying and plans to play the second stage in October. The JGTO has four-stage qualifying, with the first three running four days and the final stage lasting six, with a cut after the first 72 holes.

Since he will turn 18 in January, Fujikawa was eligible to try and qualify for the PGA Tour this fall. The family opted for Japan so he can work on his game more before trying the PGA Tour, and immerse himself in a culture he enjoys.

"We feel it's better that way," said Lori Fujikawa, Tadd's mother. "He wants to win. To win on the PGA Tour is really tough. It's not impossible, but it's really tough. His college is the Japan tour."

Fujikawa turned pro last July after finishing 20th at the Sony Open in Hawai'i — becoming the second-youngest in history to make a PGA Tour cut — and winning the Hawai'i Pearl Open. He has played 15 tour events since, six on the PGA Tour, and made two cuts, both in Japan. He also won this year's Mid-Pacific Open.

Before he tries to qualify, Fujikawa will play two European Tour events — KLM Open in The Netherlands (Aug. 21 to 24) and a return to the Omega European Masters in Switzerland (Sept. 4 to 7).

Fujikawa is finishing at Moanalua online, giving him flexibility to travel, yet still be part of school functions. His studies unofficially include learning Japanese, to improve his comfort level "at work."

"I really like the people in Japan. They are really nice and supportive of golfers and pro athletes in general. In Japan, courses are a little shorter and conditions tend to be a little easier than the PGA Tour. It's still a really good test of golf ... it just makes it more relaxing."

Tuesday's inaugural Tadd Fujikawa Invitational Golf Tournament, presented by HMAA, raised $90,000 for March of Dimes.