Finau matches career low, Scheffler sees under-par streak end at Houston Open
HOUSTON (AP) — Tony Finau matched his career low on the PGA Tour with an 8-under 62 on Friday, taking a two-shot lead into the weekend with hopes of winning back-to-back — 16 months apart — in the Houston Open.
Scottie Scheffler saw his streak of 28 rounds under par end with a 22-inch miss on his final hole. The threeputt double bogey from 6 feet gave him an even-par 70, though he was only four behind in his bid for a third straight PGA Tour victory.
Finau spent time after his opening round to work on his putting with coach Boyd Summerhays, and it paid off in a big way. He holed three putts from about 25 feet or longer, and he chipped in from 40 feet for eagle on the par-5 eighth.
Finau narrowly missed a 15-footer on his last hole at the par-3 ninth, knowing it would have been his lowest round on the PGA Tour. He was plenty satisfied with a 62, the sixth time he has posted that score, most recently in the last Houston Open.
“I hit some nice shots, but it was mostly just draining some putts from long distance,” Finau said. “I chipped in for eagle on 8. Next thing you know I’m
like, ‘Wow, 8 under.’ So it’s strange how this game works, but you’re never thinking ahead too much.” Finau was at 9-under 131. Alejandro Tosti, a PGA Tour rookie from Argentina, had a 67 and was two shots behind. Thomas Detry of Belgium shot 64 and was three behind.
Finau won the Houston Open in November 2022 and had to wait 16 months to defend because of the tournament’s move to the spring ahead of the Masters.
Scheffler faced the strong wind in the afternoon and was holding his own, challenging Finau for the lead. But on the par-5 16th, he hit 7-iron off the bank and into the water, forcing him
to scramble for par. He hit a superb approach to 4 feet for birdie on the 17th, putting him 2 under for his round and two behind Finau.
And then it all changed. Scheffler found a bunker, blasted out and nearly holed it. His par putt from 6 feet spun around the cup, and he went to tap in from 22 inches only for it to dive offline and catch the right lip.
“Frustrating lapse in judgment there,” Scheffler said. “Felt like I hit a good putt on the first one, maybe went just barely through the break so obviously it was a bit frustrating hitting a good putt and it not going in. Second one, I guess just hit a little fast and didn’t see a spike mark.”