Tony Finau

Tony Finau: biography

Tony Finau is a professional golfer from the United States who currently plays on the PGA Tour.

Finau is known for his impressive length off the tee, as well as his athleticism and versatility on the golf course. He has represented the United States in international competitions such as the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup, and is widely regarded as one of the top golfers in the world.

Childhood and youth

Tony Finau was born on September 14, 1989, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Kelepi Finau and Ravena Finau. He grew up in a large family with six siblings, and his parents were of Tongan and American descent. Finau was introduced to golf at a young age by his father, who was an avid golfer and taught him how to play.

Finau showed a natural talent for the sport and quickly began to excel, winning numerous junior golf tournaments throughout Utah. Despite his success, Finau faced numerous challenges as a young golfer, including financial difficulties and discrimination due to his ethnic background. However, he persevered and continued to work hard, eventually earning a scholarship to play golf at Brigham Young University.

Golf career

Tony Finau turned professional in 2007 at the age of 17, and initially played on mini-tours before earning his PGA Tour card in 2015. In his early years as a professional, Finau showed promise, but struggled to consistently perform at a high level.

However, in 2016, Finau broke through with his first PGA Tour victory at the Puerto Rico Open. He finished at 12-under par, beating out Steve Marino by three strokes to capture his first win. The victory earned Finau a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, as well as a spot in the 2016 Masters.

Finau's performance at the 2016 Masters was memorable for all the wrong reasons, as he famously dislocated his ankle during the Par-3 Contest the day before the tournament began. Despite the injury, Finau showed incredible resilience and played through the pain, finishing the tournament tied for 10th place.

Since then, Finau has become known as one of the most consistent performers on the PGA Tour, with numerous top-10 finishes in major championships. In 2018, he finished tied for 5th at the US Open, and tied for 9th at the Open Championship. He also represented the United States in the 2018 Ryder Cup, where he won two of his three matches and helped his team secure a victory over Europe.

Finau continued his strong play in 2019, finishing tied for 5th at the Masters and tied for 3rd at the Open Championship. He also had a strong showing in the FedEx Cup playoffs, finishing tied for 3rd at the Northern Trust and tied for 4th at the BMW Championship.

In 2020, Finau finished tied for 8th at the PGA Championship, and recorded three additional top-10 finishes throughout the season. He also represented the United States in the 2020 Masters, where he finished tied for 38th place.

In 2022, Tony Finau secured his spot on the U.S. team for the Presidents Cup and earned a record of three wins and one loss in his matches. Later in November of the same year, Finau clinched his third PGA Tour victory of the calendar year by winning the Cadence Bank Houston Open. In April 2023, Finau achieved his sixth career PGA Tour victory by winning the Mexico Open.

Finau's success on the golf course can be attributed to his impressive length off the tee, as well as his athleticism and versatility on the course. He is widely regarded as one of the top golfers in the world, and is expected to continue competing at a high level for years to come.

Personal life

Finau has been married to his wife, Alayna Finau, since 2012, and the couple has four children together: Jraice, Leilene Aiaga, Tony and Sage. Finau has spoken publicly about the importance of his family in his life, and how they have helped him to maintain a balanced perspective amidst the pressures of professional golf.

Off the golf course, Finau is also involved in charitable work, and has been a supporter of various organizations focused on children's health and education. He has also established the Tony Finau Foundation, which aims to empower and inspire youth through education, mentorship, and golf.

Overall, Finau is known for his positive attitude, hard work, and dedication both on and off the golf course, and is widely respected as a role model and inspiration to others.

Accomplishments and achievements

• One PGA Tour victory (2016 Puerto Rico Open)
• 25 top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour
• Two top-5 finishes in major championships (Tied for 5th at the 2018 US Open and 2019 Masters)
• Three top-10 finishes in major championships
• Represented the United States in the 2018 Ryder Cup and 2019 Presidents Cup
• Ranked as high as No. 9 in the Official World Golf Ranking (as of September 2021)
• More than $24 million in career earnings on the PGA Tour