Playoff defeat denies Finau second career PGA Tour victory [1]
Tuesday, February 4, 2020 - 16:16
Tony Finau’s goal for 2020 was to finally return to the winner’s circle on the PGA Tour. It’s been four years since his first and only title, at the 2016 Puerto Rico Open, but odds were good that he would finally win again this season.
The goal still remains elusive.
Finau lost a two-shot advantage with two holes to play Sunday at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, as Webb Simpson surged back into a tie after 72 holes before coming out on top on the first playoff hole.
“My game's in a great place early in the season. I feel good. I had a chance, a great chance, to win this week,” Finau said.
“Unfortunately, it didn't happen, but my game's better than it's ever been. I have more confidence than I've ever had. And again, if you know anything about me, I'll persevere through anything. If you want to say this is a stumbling block or whatever it is, to chase this next one, but I'll knock it off soon and will be on my way.”
Finau was at 17-under approaching the par-4 17th, but Simpson hit his tee shot to the green, leading to birdie. The 30-year-old of Tongan and American Samoan descent still had a chance to win at the last, even after Simpson converted a 17-foot birdie to tie things atop the leaderboard.
But Finau missed an 8-foot winning putt, then watched as Simpson converted the first playoff hole into a birdie and a victory.
“Fhe first one I hit really good, I thought I made. It would have been nice. It just slid past the hole,” Finau said. “Second one, similar line, a little bit further, decided to play a little bit more break and it didn't break this time, so hat's off to Webb. A couple birdies coming home and if you're going to get beat that's how it should happen. I definitely didn't give him the tournament. He took the lead from me early and I got it late, but unfortunately, it's how the cookie crumbles today.”
Simpson found it difficult to celebrate the win given his fondness of Finau.
“It's hard. He’s a great friend,” Simpson said of Finau. “Our wives are friends and he's one of the best guys on Tour. So it’s a bit tough. You never want to see a guy play poorly. You hope you both play well and you hope you win by one, is kind of what we all feel. But he's going to win many golf tournaments and it's fun to go head-to-head with a good buddy.”
Finau echoed those sentiments.
“I think the camaraderie that I have with him as being one of my best friends out here,” he said. “It would have been hard for either one of us to take this victory from each other. He got the upper hand this time, but I love that guy, and that's one hell of a finish. If you're going to birdie 18 a couple times you're probably going to win.”
Finau shot 1-under 70 on Sunday, his worst round of the weekend. He had surged into contention after posting rounds of 63-64-69 over his first three rounds.
- By Chris Cox, PGA TOUR Communications