Finau’s rise might lead to title shot
TONY Finau left Ridgewood Country Club on Sunday afternoon feeling like a winner, even though he finished second.
Capturing the Northern Trust championship wasn’t realistic, not with the way Bryson DeChambeau played, shooting a 2under 69 to coast to a fourstroke victory in Paramus, N.J.
What Finau could feel good about was his solid round of 3-under 68, good enough for 14-under for the tournament and solo second place. Not only did Finau capture all the valuable points that come with being the runner-up in the first leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, it all but assures him a spot in the coveted Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta, where the FedEx Cup champion and winner of $10 million will be crowned.
“I tried to play as aggressively as I could coming the down the stretch,” said Finau, who posted four birdies against one bogey on a day when the course played as firm as it did all week. “Everything that goes on in these playoffs, you have to play well to get to the Tour Championship. Guys can get jumped fast the way the point system works. I think I pretty much punched my ticket to the Tour Championship, which is cool in the first event.”
This wasn’t a thrilling tournament, not when the winner stiffarms the rest of the field. DeChambeau entered the day with a four-shot lead and promptly made birdies on his first two holes. It sent the message everyone else was playing for second.
Finau started five shots back. Using his length off the tee, he made birdie at the par-5 third hole and added another at the par-4 ninth, where he chipped in from 28 feet. But his momentum was stalled by a bogey at the par-4 10th, where he failed to get up-and-down from a green-side bunker. He made a brief charge with back-to-back birdies at the par-5 13th and the par-4 14th, but he settled for par on his remaining four holes.
“I played to win today,” Finau said. “I knew my putter felt good. I just needed to give myself as many chances as I could. That just means playing solid golf. It doesn’t mean I have to fire at every flag or hit driver every hole. That just means I have to hit fairways and give myself looks. Bryson played incredible to be in that position and play as solid as he did.”
Finau, 28, is still making a name for himself on the PGA Tour. He perhaps is best known for injuring his ankle while celebrating a holein-one during the Par 3 contest at the Masters this year. That he played four rounds at Augusta National and was strong enough to finish tied for the 10th said something about his competitiveness. It’s something we’ll likely see more off as his career develops.
“All season I played well, and it really counts now,” Finau said. “To get to the Tour Championship, you’ve got to play well now. It doesn’t matter how you played during the season. It’s kind of two different deals. I know how much every week means in the playoffs. To get off on the right foot with a solo second is a solid start.”
Finau’s only tour victory came at the 2016 Puerto Rico Open, but this has been his breakout year with top-10 finishes at the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open. He’s not just knocking on the door — he’s banging on it after his third second-place showing this year.
“I’m hungry,” he said. “I want to win and I know I can do it. Hopefully, I have more opportunities like this in the weeks to come. Getting these types of experiences are things you can’t pay for. It’s good to be in the heat and play well.”
Finau’s performance is certain to catch the eye of Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk, who has four captain’s picks available. Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods appear to be locks. DeChambeau and Finau may have earned the other two spots this week.
“If I’m in consideration, this doesn’t hurt my chances,” Finau said. “Whatever his decision is, I’ll be ready to play.”
DeCHAMBEAU RUNS AWAY WITH NORTHERN TRUST TITLE