In typically dramatic, fist-pumping fashion, Moanalua High School senior Tadd Fujikawa birdied his final two holes yesterday to make his first PGA Tour cut outside of Hawai'i.

Fujikawa, 18, shot 1-over-par 71 for the second straight day in the $5.5 million Honda Classic at PGA National, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The cut came at 3-over. He is nine behind leader Y.E. Yang, whose second-round 65 was one off the course record.

Fujikawa turned pro two years ago after finishing 20th at the 2007 Sony Open in Hawai'i, becoming the second-youngest to make a cut in PGA Tour history. He missed his first six PGA Tour cuts as a pro until roaring into contention at this year's Sony.

"It feels good, I'm excited to be here," Fujikawa said by phone from Florida. "When I was with my coaches last week they talked about how much I've grown as a player and how my game has improved. Everything has really improved — mentally, physically, everything. It's really cool to see the changes I've made paying off."

They paid off just in time yesterday. Fujikawa started early, but was aware the cut would probably come at 3-over as he headed to the 13th at 2-over. The wind grabbed his approach shot there and he couldn't get up and down, making bogey. After missing a birdie putt on the next hole, he three-putted the 15th from 40 feet to fall back to 4-over.

"All those par-3s, when you hit the green you are not supposed to make bogey and I made bogey," Fujikawa said. "I was really, really angry."

Knowing he needed at least one birdie on the final two holes, he dropped an 18-foot birdie putt on the 17th to get back to 3-over. That par-3 was the toughest hole on the course yesterday, with just 14 birdies and a scoring average of 3.39.

He made "absolutely sure" of making the cut by draining a 20-footer on the final hole, his third birdie on the back nine.

"I was pretty pumped by the birdie at 17 and ended up with a good birdie at 18," Fujikawa said. "It was a good way to end the day. I'm pretty satisfied with it."

Fujikawa, tied for 49th, missed the Honda cut last year after shooting 78-76. Ernie Els won with a four-day total of 6-under; he is a shot behind Fujikawa going into today's third round.

Rory McIlroy, a year older than Fujikawa, is tied for 13th after a 68. McIlroy, from Northern Ireland, is making his second PGA Tour start. He leads the field in driving, averaging more than 315 yards. Fujikawa is 24th in driving (297 yards) and putting (28 per round).

"Especially my putting has improved," Fujikawa said. "I think I've found a putter I feel comfortable with and I feel comfortable over the ball with my golf swing. It's pretty exciting."

Fujikawa tees off at 4:56 a.m. Hawai'i time today. NBC's broadcast begins at 10 a.m.