Tony Finau

I was impressed with his fortitude today. He could've very easily gone in the tank after making double on 12, but he nutted up and made 3 birdies coming in to shoot even in the final group. With all the hoopla surrounding him in the final group he fought through it. Hope he gains some confidence from that going forward. Was pulling for Tiger, but wanted to give him his due for showing some mental toughness today.

What did you all think of his performance today being in the final group in this scenario?

It was weird yesterday, the final group didn't get its act together until 12, when the groups up ahead started chirping. It's as if they were all on cruise mode until Cantlay, DJ and Brooks were going low. Might have just been the effect of 13 & 15, but all seemed rather complacent and asleep at the helm.

Outwardly he showed no signs of nerves and looked like he belonged, but his score was 8 shots worse than yesterday. I think his timing and rhythm with that short backswing is suspect under pressure, but his short game stood up.

I was reasonably impressed with TF. Sure he is a top 20 player when it comes to the OWGR, had an impressive Ryder Cup debut and turned into a Top 10 machine last season but let's not forget he has one win on Tour and that was at Puerto Rico when the Top 50 where playing elsewhere.

I fully expected him to completely fade away yesterday and and after 12 it seemed like that was about to happen but credit to him, he stuck around and ground it out.

First time I ever saw Tony Finau was on a made for TV Million Dollar money game against another player. I believe Donald Trump put up the money. Tony was perhaps 15 or 17 and was being touted as the next Tiger Woods. Anybody else remember this made for TV event? I've looked for it on YouTube but couldn't find anything.

Tony certainly took a non-traditional path with respect to how he finally got to the tour, but I think that is why he is relatable. That dude is a grinder, and after seeing his interview with Feherty make him very likeable. I agree he probably was stuck in cruise for too long, but if nothing else he got a pretty decent “101” course management lesson from Tiger yesterday. He, and many others, have the ability Tiger had several decades ago and that is to overpower the course, but you need the road map to get to the final destination or some luck, but more than a few played very well yesterday.

Mad love for Tony.. I think he is a genuine person who lived real struggles and now truly appreciates what he's achieved.. his feherty episode was fantastic.

I get the impression that he isn't a good closer and one title is too little for someone of his talent. Perhaps he will be like Duval where one good win will lead to the flood gates opening.

Hes a good all rounder but as they say not a "closer" i think a few more years experience will do him wonders.

I used to follow Ricky Fowler, thinking he might be the next "thing". But lately, I've been watching Finau. Seems like he's hungrier. Sometimes I think Ricky is just happy to be on the money list.

> @GolfTurkey said:

> I get the impression that he isn't a good closer and one title is too little for someone of his talent. Perhaps he will be like Duval where one good win will lead to the flood gates opening.

I did too until a read an article with new golf analytics...he's actually considered top 5 or 10 in "clutch" stats..How you play when you're within so many shots of the lead.

The shoes / outfit though. He looked like a gangly out of place kid wearing clothes his mom laid out..... If he keeps placing higher I hope Nike dresses him better.

Tony is a good guy and a solid golfer. He just needs more looks. I think he's done incredibly well.

Tiger commented that _Tony is close. _

Agreed. He has some serious game.

And very likable guy.

> @SurfDuffer said:

> First time I ever saw Tony Finau was on a made for TV Million Dollar money game against another player. I believe Donald Trump put up the money. Tony was perhaps 15 or 17 and was being touted as the next Tiger Woods. Anybody else remember this made for TV event? I've looked for it on YouTube but couldn't find anything.

I remember him on the big break and thinking most of those guys were just decent weekend golfers. He turned out to be legit.

I became a fan when he popped his ankle back in.

> @ohioglfr said:

> I used to follow Ricky Fowler, thinking he might be the next "thing". But lately, I've been watching Finau. Seems like he's hungrier. Sometimes I think Ricky is just happy to be on the money list.

I get the feeling Rick just pushes too hard because he wants it so bad, leading to the classic Rickey Doubble. Seems like he suffers a bit from impostor syndrome where it's like he doesn't feel he deserves to win.

No secret that Tony was in awe of the GOAT. For a loser he was pretty upbeat afterwards, said he was glad to have witnessed #15. Final major group with Tiger! Will inspire Tony I believe. He played good, a 72 even with the double on 12. Of course he shot 64 on Saturday, and always gonna be tough to follow that up with another low one. But still -8 on the weekend at the Masters is very good.

How does he hit that ball so far with that swing? I need to incorporate that into my "game"....

> @legitimategolf said:

> No secret that Tony was in awe of the GOAT. For a loser he was pretty upbeat afterwards, said he was glad to have witnessed #15. Final major group with Tiger! Will inspire Tony I believe. He played good, a 72 even with the double on 12. Of course he shot 64 on Saturday, and always gonna be tough to follow that up with another low one. But still -8 on the weekend at the Masters is very good.

I like Tony, his attitude is always upbeat. Always smiling and looking like he is genuinely happy about being out there. He is good for TV, I was happy that he was on the RC team.

I love his comments on being able to say he was in the group with Tiger when he won #15. He sounded like a little kid that he is able to say that.

> @BiggErn said:

> > @SurfDuffer said:

> > First time I ever saw Tony Finau was on a made for TV Million Dollar money game against another player. I believe Donald Trump put up the money. Tony was perhaps 15 or 17 and was being touted as the next Tiger Woods. Anybody else remember this made for TV event? I've looked for it on YouTube but couldn't find anything.

>

> I remember him on the big break and thinking most of those guys were just decent weekend golfers. He turned out to be legit.

It’s been a few years since that group of guys were on BB but I can assure you that the ones not named Finau were much more than decent weekend golfers.

> @JORDANF1 said:

> Hes a good all rounder but as they say not a "closer" i think a few more years experience will do him wonders.

I thought Finau was a toss yesterday. As you described, he simply is not a closer, and that is logical given his background. I always keep in mind he blew the Big Break Disney final despite having a late 3 shot lead over the legendary Mike Perez. Consequently every time Finau gets close to a PGA tour victory I fully expect him to either level off and settle slightly behind the elite players, or falter slightly if he still has a chance near the wire. He actually did falter at the end of that alternate event he ended up winning with several late errant tee shots, but the caliber of field enabled him to hang on anyway. Poulter was in contention during that event, if I remember correctly, but hardly playing as well as currently.

IMO, Tiger's actual opportunity yesterday was much greater than his theoretical opportunity, given that Finau was in that final group and not someone like Xander, who is a more proven winner. Tiger benefitted immensely from Xander's late struggles on Saturday. If Finau bad been -8 and Xander -10 or -11 entering Sunday I'm not sure the outcome is the same. But I realize there are plenty of variables in there.

> @BiggErn said:

> > @SurfDuffer said:

> > First time I ever saw Tony Finau was on a made for TV Million Dollar money game against another player. I believe Donald Trump put up the money. Tony was perhaps 15 or 17 and was being touted as the next Tiger Woods. Anybody else remember this made for TV event? I've looked for it on YouTube but couldn't find anything.

>

> I remember him on the big break and thinking most of those guys were just decent weekend golfers. He turned out to be legit.

That wasn't Tony. That was his brother on the Big Break.

> @SurfDuffer said:

> > @BiggErn said:

> > > @SurfDuffer said:

> > > First time I ever saw Tony Finau was on a made for TV Million Dollar money game against another player. I believe Donald Trump put up the money. Tony was perhaps 15 or 17 and was being touted as the next Tiger Woods. Anybody else remember this made for TV event? I've looked for it on YouTube but couldn't find anything.

> >

> > I remember him on the big break and thinking most of those guys were just decent weekend golfers. He turned out to be legit.

>

> That wasn't Tony. That was his brother on the Big Break.

Both did.

> @SurfDuffer said:

> > @BiggErn said:

> > > @SurfDuffer said:

> > > First time I ever saw Tony Finau was on a made for TV Million Dollar money game against another player. I believe Donald Trump put up the money. Tony was perhaps 15 or 17 and was being touted as the next Tiger Woods. Anybody else remember this made for TV event? I've looked for it on YouTube but couldn't find anything.

> >

> > I remember him on the big break and thinking most of those guys were just decent weekend golfers. He turned out to be legit.

>

> That wasn't Tony. That was his brother on the Big Break.

Both brothers appeared on Big Break.

I like Tony a lot. I think he's really good for the game.

Seems like a class guy

He's good. Will get it together eventually like DJ did. He's not there yet. When his wedge game is sharp watch out. His putting also just seems to be soso. He doesn't have the complete stellar game to make it to number 1, but will probably have a long career. As long as he keeps those Finau 1's on his ankle.

Given his Polynesian background I wish Ernie would make him an offer to play for the Internationals.

My wife saw Tony being interviewed somewhere this weekend. The guy is just so likable. Seems like he doesn't have a mean bone in his body.