Finau’s ankle is fine, so is his game
Three weeks ago, Tony Finau dislocated his left ankle, and then immediately popped the bone back into place best he could, as he celebrated his hole in one during the Par 3 Contest on the eve of the first round of the Masters.
After an MRI and getting the goahead from doctors, Finau amazingly not only played but also finished in a tie for 10th in the first major championship of the year.
A few days later he posted graphic photos of his inflamed, damaged ankle and didn’t know when he would return to the PGA Tour.
Well, his ankle is feeling better and his game was in order Thursday in the first round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La. Finau and Daniel Summerhays combined to shoot 10-under-par 62 in fourballs in the two-man team format to share third place with five others through 18 holes. Each made six birdies — they each birdied the same hole twice.
Fourballs will also be used in the third round while alternate shot will be in play in the second and fourth rounds in the second edition of this team-format event that’s become a hit with the players.
“I think a great remedy for something hurting is some good golf; 62 is going to make the ankle feel a lot better,” said Fi- nau, who only played nine holes while he was rehabbing the ankle. “It’s in good position. I did some good work the last couple weeks with some trainers back home in Utah and it’s feeling pretty good. I look forward to just continuing to strengthen it.
“It’s not 100%, but it’s feeling a lot better.”
Finau and Summerhays have known each other since they were 16, which they say plays into how well they play as a team.
“We know each other really well,” Finau said. “We play with each other all the time. That’s a huge part of playing team golf, is knowing your partner and knowing he’s not disappointed when you don’t make a good swing.
“That’s part of it this week, is just feeling good while you play. I think we both just feel good playing around each other.”
Finau and Summerhays trail two coleading teams that shot 60s: Chez Reavie and 2009 U.S. Open champ Lucas Glover; and Xinjun Zhang and Zecheng Dou. Reavie and Glover each made six birdies en route to their 60.
“Just kind of ham and egged it, as they would say,” Glover said. “Chez started well and I picked it up in the middle of the back nine (they started on the 10th hole). He closed it off and then we both played really well on the front.”
Also at 62 were the teams of Tommy Fleetwood/Chris Paisley; J.J. Henry/ Tom Hoge; and Michael Kim/Andrew Putnam.
At 66 was the Texas duo of Jordan Spieth and Ryan Palmer, who finished fourth last year. They weathered a slow start and a bout of rain and finished strong. Last year they played well in alternate shot so the two remain confident of their chances this week.
“We didn’t make any putts outside of 10 feet really, and we both kind of burned some edges. It was one of those days,” said Spieth, who is playing for the first time since finishing third in the Masters. “I think we’re pretty confident in the way we’re playing right now, so alternate shot should be a good format for us.”
“We both feel good with what we’re doing with our ball, and especially with the format,” Palmer said.