He remembers what it's like. Being behind the ropes. Hanging around the practice green. Hoping that some kind pro will toss a ball his way, to a junior golfer with eyes as big as the hole on the green.

It's why Parker McLachlin carries three extra sleeves of balls whenever he's in a tournament. It's part of the memories that the 30-year-old carries in his bag, particularly this week at Waialae Country Club, where he took his first golf lesson at age 8.

It's the fifth Sony Open in Hawaii for the Punahou School product and, if his alternating-year theory holds true, it could be one of his best. McLachlin has missed the cut every other year here, including 2009 when he began a complete overhaul of his golf swing.

“;I'm hoping for big things in 2010 and starting the season here is really special,”; he said yesterday. “;It's one of those things that I've played well one year, then have high expectations the next year and don't make the cut. Then I have no expectations the next year and I make the cut. Didn't make the cut last year, so ...

“;I was 11 when David Ishii won (the then-Hawaiian Open) in 1990. I remember the excitement, how cool it was. I was three years into my golf career and it was a motivating thing. It made for such a reality for someone from Hawaii to win on the PGA Tour. David winning the Sony was the initial seed that got me thinking, 'I'm from Hawaii, David's from Hawaii. I could do it, too.' “;

Course knowledge is a mixed plate. It's an advantage, according to McLachlin, “;because you know where you are allowed to miss it and where you can absolutely not miss it.

“;But sometimes you almost know too much because you've played here so many times and you remember the bad shots ... as well as the good.”;

McLachlin's best round has been a 65, which he's done twice, both times coming in the third round. The second time was 2008 when he went on to finish at 274, tied for 10th.

McLachlin said he was around 13 when he attended his first Sony Open, not much younger than when Tadd Fujikawa was inside the ropes, playing in his first PGA event. Fujikawa, who turned 19 last Friday, was a 15-year-old amateur when he qualified for the U.S. Open in 2006.

Six months later, the Moanalua High product made the cut at the Sony Open, the second-youngest to do so in a PGA event. In both 2007 and last year — as a pro — Fujikawa faded here on the final day after spectacular third-round scores: a 66 in '07 and a 62 in '09.

Asked what the biggest difference in his game is from a year ago, Fujikawa said it was the maturation of his mental game. He's finding the discipline he learned while competing in judo for his grandfather's dojo (Salt Lake Judo Club) is helping him on the course.

“;I can still hit the same shots that I could, but the main thing is just being able to control my emotions,”; he said. “;I've kind of learned how to do that just playing in more events. I feel like I don't make as many careless mistakes as I did in the past. Hopefully it will show this week.”;

Unlike McLachlin, Fujikawa said he wasn't hanging around the Sony Open growing up. He recalled coming to the event once or twice, but left after an hour.

“;I don't really like watching golf,”; he said. “;If I'm going to be here, I want to be playing.

“;I set a goal that I wanted to be out here playing and competing against the best players in the world. I'm still trying to achieve that goal today.”;

McLachlin currently lives in Arizona and, barring another tour win, his exempt status expires at the end of this season. Fujikawa, in the process of moving to Sea Island, Ga., didn't attain his card this summer at qualifying school and plans to compete on the eGolf Tarheel Tour.

Both agreed that playing “;at home”; in this event means a lot.

“;I think, without the Sony Open, I wouldn't really be here right now,”; Fujikawa said. “;I think it helped the world see who I was. I love the atmosphere. It's special playing here.”;

“;I think everyone in the state is rooting for the local guys, that we can have that miraculous round like David Ishii in 1990, Ted Makalena in 1966,”; McLachlin said. “;It's surreal being here. To win here would be really special.

“;It's nice to dream the dream, to think about what it would be like to walk down 18 that last day with the lead. But you have to focus. It's one shot at a time, one day at a time.”;

Note

McLachlin and Fujikawa are two of the six golfers from Hawaii entered. The others are Hilo Municipal pro Kevin Hayashi, University of Hawaii sophomore T.J. Kua, former Hawaii-Hilo golfer Nick Mason and Kaneohe's Dean Wilson.

TODAY'S PRO-AM TEE TIMES
at Waialae Country Club

FIRST TEE
6:50 a.m., Steve Stricker, 7 a.m., Lucas Glover; 7:09 a.m., Corey Pavin; 7:18 a.m., Angel Cabrera; 7:27 a.m., John Rollins; 7:36 a.m., Vijay Singh; 7:45 a.m., Luke Donald, 7:54 a.m., Brian Davis; 8:03 a.m., Jason Duffner; 8:12 a.m., Brian Gay; 8:21 a.m., Kevin Na, 8:30 a.m., David Toms, 8:39 a.m., Zach Johnson.

10TH TEE
6:50 a.m., Sean O'Hair; 7 a.m., Dustin Johnson; 7:09 a.m., Boo Weekley; 7:18 a.m., Matt Kuchar, 7:27 a.m., Justin Leonard, 7:36 a.m., K.J. Choi; 7:45 a.m., Bo Van Pelt; 7:54 a.m., Mark Wilson; 8:03 a.m., Stephen Ames; 8:12 a.m., Tim Clark; 8:21 a.m., Jerry Kelly, 8:30 a.m., Rory Sabatini, 8:39 a.m., Y.E. Yang.

FIRST TEE
11:30 a.m., Reteif Goosen; 11:39 a.m., Robert Allenby; 11:48 a.m., Shigeki Mauruyama; 11:57 a.m., Marc Leishman, 12:06 p.m., Pat Perez, 12:15 p.m., Ryuji Imada; 12:24 p.m., Paul Goydos; 12:33 p.m., Troy Matteson, 12:42 p.m., Tom Lehman; 12:51 p.m., John Merrick, 1 p.m., Bubba Watson; 1:09 p.m., Ernie Els.

10TH TEE
11:30 a.m., Stewart Cink, 11:39 a.m., Charles Howell III; 11:48 a.m., Stuart Appleby, 11:57 a.m., Chad Campbell; 12:06 p.m., Davis Love III; 12:15 p.m., John Daly; 12:24 p.m.., Tim Petrovic; 12:33 p.m., George McNeil, 12:42 p.m., Rickie Fowler; 12:51 p.m., Nathan Green; 1 p.m., Bill Haas; 1:09 p.m., Brett Quigley.
Alternates: Bryce Molder, Charlie Wi, D.A. Points, Jonathan Byrd, Jason Day, Webb Simpson, Jeff Klauk, Jeff Overton, Fredrick Jacobson, Briny Baird.

TOMORROW'S TEE TIMES
FIRST TEE
7:10 a.m.: Chad Campbell, Jeff Quinney, Matt Bettencourt. 7:20 a.m.: Corey Pavin, Jesper Parnevik, Jay Williamson.
7:30 a.m.: Charlie Wi, Bryce Molder, Ricky Barnes. 7:40 a.m.: Parker McLachlin, Boo Weekley, Daniel Chopra. 7:50 a.m.: John Rollins, Richard S. Johnson, Stuart Appleby. 8 a.m.: Y.E. Yang, Zach Johnson, Davis Love III. 8:10 a.m.: Matt Kuchar, Lucas Glover, Justin Leonard. 8:20 a.m.: Woody Austin, Briny Baird, Mathias Gronberg. 8:30 a.m.: John Daly, Bob Estes, Bubba Watson. 8:40 a.m.: Chris Tidland, Steve Wheatcroft, Jerod Turner. 8:50 a.m.: Matt Jones, Rickie Fowler, Troy Merritt. 9 a.m.: Justin Bolli, Chris Baryla, WC Liang. 11:40 a.m.: Scott McCarron, Nicholas Thompson, Marc Leishman. 11:50 a.m.: Shigeki Maruyama, Fredrik Jacobson, Roland Thatcher. Noon: Brett Quigley, Michael Allen, Jimmy Walker. 12:10 p.m.: Johnson Wagner, Mark Calcavecchia, Ben Curtis. 12:20 p.m.: Marc Turnesa, Ryuji Imada, Charles Howell III. 12:30 p.m.: Steve Stricker, Ernie Els, David Toms. 12:40 p.m.: Bo Van Pelt, Brian Gay, Rory Sabbatini. 12:50 p.m.: Jeff Maggert, Omar Uresti, Brenden Pappas. 1 p.m.: Nick O'Hern, Jason Day, Scott Piercy. 1:10 p.m.: Brian Stuard, Blake Adams, Roger Tambellini. 1:20 p.m.: Martin Flores, Josh Teater, T.J. Kua. 1:30 p.m.: Henrik Bjornstad, Brendon de Jonge, Nick Mason.

10TH TEE
7:10 a.m.: John Huston, Jason Dufner, D.A. Points. 7:20 a.m.: George McNeill, Chris Riley, Bill Haas. 7:30 a.m.: Rich Beem, Jeff Gove, Tim Wilkinson. 7:40 a.m.: Nathan Green, D.J. Trahan, Brad Faxon. 7:50 a.m.: Ryan Palmer, Carl Pettersson, Steve Lowery. 8 a.m.: Stewart Cink, Sean O'Hair, Pat Perez. 8:10 a.m.: Stephen Ames, Jerry Kelly, Angel Cabrera. 8:20 a.m.: Jonathan Byrd, Jim Carter, Michael Letzig. 8:30 a.m.: Tim Petrovic, Harrison Frazar, Kevin Na. 8:40 a.m.: Derek Lamely, Cameron Percy, Tadd Fujikawa. 8:50 a.m.: David Lutterus, Garth Mulroy, Chris Wilson. 9 a.m.: Chad Collins, Alex Prugh, Aaron Goldberg. 11:40 a.m.: Joe Ogilvie, Ted Purdy, Justin Rose. 11:50 a.m.: Paul Goydos, Dean Wilson, Webb Simpson. Noon: Tim Clark, Jeff Overton, Shane Bertsch. 12:10 p.m.: Cameron Beckman, Greg Kraft, Tom Lehman. 12:20 p.m.: Chez Reavie, K.J. Choi, Luke Donald. 12:30 p.m.: Troy Matteson, Vijay Singh, Robert Allenby. 12:40 p.m.: Retief Goosen, Mark Wilson, Dustin Johnson. 12:50 p.m.: Brian Davis, John Merrick, Jeff Klauk. 1 p.m.: Rich Barcelo, Graham DeLaet, Daisuke Maruyama. 1:10 p.m.: Spencer Levin, Billy Horschel, Ryuichi Oda. 1:20 p.m.: Kevin Johnson, Cameron Tringale, Kevin Hayashi. 1:30 p.m.: Tom Gillis, Kris Blanks, Kaname Yokoo.