They've been professionals for two years now, so it's hard to believe golfers Tony and Gipper Finau are both still teenagers.
Gipper just turned 19 this week and Tony will be the same age until he turns 20 early next month.
The two brothers, who have played with the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and Michael Jordan in their young lives, turned pro while they were still in high school, but we haven't heard much from them over the past couple of years.
In fact, Tony says he sometimes gets asked, "Are you still playing golf?"
Yes, he and his brother are playing, just not at the level they expected to by this point.
Since turning pro in the spring of 2007, the Finau brothers have admittedly flown under the radar. They played in a few events soon after they made their surprising decision, but haven't played much lately, competing in fewer than five tournaments apiece this year.
Instead, they spend most of their days on the range at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, where, with their help, their family bought a home earlier this year. Some guys go into an office, but the Finaus' 9-to-5 routine involves hitting balls on the range, putting or playing a round of golf.
To some golf experts, the Finaus would have been much better off if they had gone to college and played for two or three years, experiencing competition against their peers before trying to make it as professionals.
But the Finaus justify their decision, saying they are getting more practice by playing golf all day and say they still have plenty of time to make it as professionals.
"It's been really good actually," said Tony of the professional experience. "It's been pretty much what we expected."
But he also admits it been an eye-opener.
"There's a lot of good players," he says. "Everybody performs at a high level."
The Finaus were phenoms long before they ever became teenagers. Gipper was winning junior tournaments at the age of 6, which motivated his older brother to pick up the game. Before they were 12, both were shooting under par and beating much older kids.
Tony won the Utah State Amateur at the age of 16, while Gipper became the youngest player in 50 years to make the cut at a PGA Tour event, when he finished in a tie for 58th place at the 2006 Nationwide Tour Utah Classic, also at the age of 16.
Perhaps that success in 2006 was a big factor in their stunning decision to turn professional in the spring of 2007, while both were still going to West High. A big reason for the timing was the $2 million first prize at the Ultimate Game in Las Vegas, which non-touring professionals were eligible for. Tony didn't win, but by making the 12-man finals, he earned $100,000, which covered the cost of the two boys' entry fees.
Tony and Gipper and their family and advisers thought it was only a matter of time before they'd start making money as professionals. Tony did make the cut at the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee that summer and earned a check for nearly $8,000.
Since then, however, the tournaments and checks have been few and far between for Tony and Gipper.
A lot of folks in the golf profession have been critical of the Finaus' decision, believing they received some poor advice from agents looking to make a buck who didn't understand the golf business.
The Finaus prefer not to talk about it, but they parted ways with their former agent, Dieter Esch, and are now represented by a relative.
Esch did help them secure a sponsorship deal with Callaway, which provides regular income and bonuses for their play.
The boys have also spent several months over the past two years, living at David Leadbetter's academy in Florida, where they have become friends with the likes of Ty Tryon and Michelle Wie, other young phenoms who turned professional at an early age.
"It was great because we learned a lot of different shots," said Gipper. "We still go back for tune-ups."
Tony says Leadbetter tells them they each have all the shots, but stresses they have to be patient.
"We don't want to be one of those one-year wonders who win just one tournament and then don't do so well," said Tony.
The Finaus aren't playing in many tournaments these days. Tony played in the recent Salt Lake City Open, where he finished in a tie for 16th, 11 shots behind the winner. Earlier this week, he qualified for this week's Utah Open with a 69 at Glen Eagle. Both will try to qualify for the Nationwide event at Willow Creek Country Club in September.
Like many golfers, they're counting on the PGA "Tour School," the qualifying tournaments that will be played in the fall, to vault them to the big time.
Last year, Tony made it to the second stage, while Gipper didn't make it out of the pre-qualifying. They also tried in 2007, and that experience will help them this year, they believe.
"The biggest thing for us getting a place to play and get into a weekly groove," said Tony. "The toughest thing for me (when I first turned pro) is I would have a good week and then I wouldn't get into a tournament. It would be awesome if we could compete weekly on the Nationwide or PGA Tour."
If you ask the Finaus if they have any regrets about turning pro at such young ages, they are quick to say no.
Tony does admit he second-guessed himself for the first month or so, but says, "that's not even a thought any more."
"I'm glad we got the edge of turning pro early," says Gipper. "I'm a lot better. Now I have more shots to hit and I can hit them where I want. I can manage my game now, which is the biggest thing I've accomplished the last two years."
The Finaus are hopeful when they look at players such as Rory McIlroy, the Irish golfer who is just 20 and used to play alongside them in junior events. McIlroy made the cut in all four majors this year and has already banked more than $2.6 million as a pro.
"The hardest thing is having guys come up to you and say, 'Where have you guys been?"' said Tony. "It's not a race, but it's a marathon."
Gipper sounds anxious about getting out to play on the PGA or Nationwide Tour, saying, "It's about time we got out there. I can't wait until we can compete against the best."
Tony is also anxious but understands a lot of golfers don't make the Tour until they're in their mid-20s or 30s.
"We still have plenty of time," Tony says.
Remember, they're still teenagers.
e-mail: sor@desnews.com