Tony Finau could really, really use a win this week at the PGA Championship, golf’s second major of the season.
He’s such a nice guy.
In fact, if you poll PGA Tour players, he’s one of the most likable men on tour. He’s humble, kind, easy to be around, easy to root for, and not a big threat on Sundays.
Finau has proven he is capable of playing, leading, tying, challenging and competing with any of the top players on the planet. But closing the deal has eluded him. Can nice guys win? Finau hasn’t won since the Puerto Rico Open at Coco Beach half a decade ago.
This week in a PGA press preamble to the event, Finau was surprised to hear that range finders would be allowed in this huge event. It simply took him by surprise, even after the PGA announced it back in February. It was such a stunning admission that most the golf writers on the national scene led with that, or made it a sidebar to their main coverage when they filed their pieces after the presser.
“Really?” That’s how he answered a question about rangefinders in a major.
That’s Tony. He’s as laid-back as he is capable of destroying a golf course.
And that’s kind of why people love him.
If he has an arrogant bone in his body, science hasn’t discovered it yet.
When you put Tony alongside the likes of, say, former PGA champion John Daly, it’s like Tim Tebow and Jim McMahon.
In fact, responding to a Golf.com question, “What’s your purpose?” Finau’s answer was straight scripture. Sort of.
Said Tony, “It’s to be a light in the world. It’s to have so much joy emanating from me, coming out of me, that everyone in my midst can’t help but feel it.”
In actual verse, Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others so they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
So, can nice guys win? Finau has struggled to close out his competitors in final rounds. Even when he had an impressive closing round of 66 last year, it fell short. But it showed he belongs.
Golf writer Jeff Babineau put it this way this week in his piece on the website PGAChampionship.com: “Waiting for Tony Finau to win a major is almost like waiting for a bus. Eventually, it’s scheduled, and bound to arrive.”
When Mark Whetzel was director of golf at Thanksgiving Point, he took Tony and his brother Gipper under his wing when they were in high school, one of the first professionals to support, direct and counsel them on their game and careers.
Says Whetzel, “Tony is the epitome of a nice guy and a complete gentleman. If golf’s majors were given to nice guys as its the only merit, Tony would already have the Grand Slam. From his roots and family’s first upbringing, Tony always sees himself at the same level as everyone else. I can’t tell you how many times Tony would be out playing in preparation for a major or when he was on the Web.com or mini-tours, I would see him coming down 18 with two or three juniors playing alongside him.
“Sometimes my son would be part of that group, and what a blessing it’s been to have Tony as an example to my son and other young golfers on how to treat others with patience and kindness. He’s the nicest of the nice.”
Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course, site of this week’s PGA Championship, will be the longest course that has ever hosted the event. It will give an advantage to those who can hit their tee shots longer than 310-330 yards, which Finau can do with ease.
There is a par-3 that measures 250 yards. If the wind comes up, the course will play more than 8,000 yards, easy.
Earlier this week at a presser for the top players at this major, Finau was asked if when he plays in a PGA Tour event and he contends and loses, does he feel less pressure showing up at another major championship because he has a great record in majors? And is there pressure that he hasn’t won a major before?
“I don’t know if it’s less pressure or — I feel really comfortable, I think, in major atmospheres, because I’ve put myself in contention in a lot of them. I’ve played in the Ryder Cup and I’ve played in a Presidents Cup, so I don’t know if it’s less pressure than maybe more comfortable than most of the field just playing at a high level in these tournaments,” said Finau.
“But I look forward to the major championships. Tiger referred to them as the four weeks that mattered to him. A lot of the top players in the world feel the same.
“As my career has evolved throughout the years I’m starting to feel the same. The major championships are the threshold of pro golf, and I’m happy that I’ve showed up for a lot of them. I haven’t been able to win one yet, but the more I put myself there, hopefully I knock the door down, and hopefully it’s this week.”
Oh, Finau can do this. He can win a major. He’s shown that in the Masters, U.S. Open and at this championship. He belongs in the contender club before anyone tees it up.
Just remember back in the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris, France. He took one of the best players in the world, Tommy Fleetwood, to the woodshed, going 4-up after dropping half a dozen birdies on him.
Finau needs his bus to arrive at the station. This may be his year.
May his light shine in South Carolina this week.
Well, it will. Regardless of how he finishes.