Tadd Fujikawa Explains Why He Decided To Announce He’s Gay
Tadd Fujikawa, at age 15, was the youngest golfer to qualify for the 2006 U.S. Open. He also made the cut as an amateur at the Sony Open in Hawaii. At the age of 16 years, 4 days, he was, at that time, the second youngest player to ever achieve that feat–now he’s the third youngest. Tadd then qualified for the Canadian Tour in 2017.
| Player | Age | Tournament | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guan Tianlang | 14 years, 5 months, 18 days | 2013 Masters Tournament | 58 |
| Bob Panasik | 15 years, 8 months, 20 days | 1957 Canadian Open | T66 |
| Tadd Fujikawa | 16 years, 4 days | 2007 Sony Open in Hawaii | T20 |
| Justin Thomas | 16 years, 2 months, 23 days | 2009 Wyndham Championship | T78 |
| Matteo Manassero | 16 years, 2 months, 29 days | 2009 British Open | T13 |
| Ty Tryon | 16 years, 9 months, 7 days | 2001 Honda Classic | T39 |
| Jordan Spieth | 16 years, 9 months, 24 days | 2010 HP Byron Nelson Championship | T16 |
Fujikawa battled keeping a secret inside for all that time before deciding to announce on Instagram that he is gay. He writes about the experience on GolfWorld.com. Its a good read and one wonders if this will motivate others to overcome their fears and follow Tadd’s lead.
COMING OUT WAS A BIG DEAL FOR ME. My family was all that I really cared about. I first came out to my mom a few years ago. But I told my grandmother only a week before making my announcement on social media, and my dad and grandfather about an hour before. None of them suspected I was gay. I did a pretty good job of hiding it.
I DECIDED TO GO PUBLIC WITH MY SEXUALITY so that others like me won’t feel alone. My purpose in life is more than golf. Golf is a huge part of it, but what drives me is my passion to change lives, and I want to empower people to be their best. I’ve seen other athletes, celebrities and my friends come out with their stories, and that gave me hope. I thought, Maybe I’ll be OK. Maybe I can do this. One day, I’ll be able to live carefree.
I’VE RECEIVED more than 1,000 direct messages or comments on social media in response to coming out. Most of them are supportive, many have shared their own experiences or have asked me for advice. It hits me hard because I know what they’re going through.
I’VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS. Mostly my peers, the ones on social media. On the PGA Tour, Justin Rose is probably the biggest name. He sent me a message on Instagram. Curtis Strange also sent me a message. I’ve never met him, but the fact he reached out was very cool. Esteban Toledo. I’m really close with him. A father figure in a way. He’s been awesome. Quite a few LPGA players. Yani Tseng, Jane Park, Brittany Lincicome. All positive. Very supportive. I’m very grateful for that.
I’M NOT SURE why we haven’t had a male golfer come out as gay before me. For sure the history and culture of golf is conservative. I was hesitant about going public for that reason. In team sports, I think it’s harder to keep a secret. You’re around your teammates for a good amount of time. Golf is a solitary game. You don’t necessarily socialize off the course. You’re able to hide more about your personal life. After I came out, I thought I’d hear from one or two male golfers in the closet, but it hasn’t happened yet.
AFTER MY INITIAL SUCCESS AS A TEENAGER, things didn’t quite go the way I had planned. The lowest point was 2013 to 2015. I lost my golf game. I lost my confidence. All my life, I had put so much effort into golf. That was my thing. Once I lost my game, I didn’t have anything else to live for. And there was no hope in anything I was doing. On top of that, I had this secret about my sexuality. It was too much for me. I didn’t want to get out of bed. I never tried to commit suicide. But there were times when it crossed my mind.
