Maybe major golf tournaments on the West Coast are no longer a good thing for Utah’s Tony Finau.
The former Salt Lake City and Lehi resident shot a disappointing 3-over-par 74 on Thursday in the first round of the 121st U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Club near San Diego and is in danger of missing the 36-hole cut.
Finau, 31, last missed a cut in a major up the coast at Pebble Beach Golf Links in the U.S. Open in 2019. He shot 74-72 that year.
Heading into Thursday’s third major of the year, Finau had missed the cut just once in his last 15 majors. He finished worse than 42nd only one other time.
Obviously, he has some work to do Friday to ensure he plays on the weekend. Finau tees off Friday at 2:47 p.m. MT from the No. 10 tee on the South Course at TPGC.
It will probably take something in the 70 or 71 range to make the cut.
Thursday, Finau bogeyed holes 2, 6, 11 and 15 before making a birdie on the par-5, 655-yard 18th hole to build a little bit of momentum heading into the second round.
Russell Henley led golfers with morning tee times by firing a 4-under 67.
Play was delayed nearly 90 minutes in the morning due to intense fog and some players were not expected to finish their first rounds before nightfall.