The curse of the Puerto Rico Open champion continues to haunt Tony Finau.
The 30-year-old Finau shot 3-under 68 on Sunday and finished in a 9-way tie for third, two strokes behind winner Michael Thompson at the 3M Open in Blaine, Minnesota.
Finau trailed by two strokes heading into the final day, but jumped into the lead early. He made a 26-foot birdie putt at No. 2 and a 32 footer at 3 for birdie, and when Thompson and Richy Werenski both made bogey he claimed the lead. It looked as if Finau might shoot a low one and run away with the tournament, but he failed to take advantage of the par 5s and his putter went cold. He made birdie at 10 to regain a share of the lead temporarily, but a bogey was costly at the par-3 13th when he tried to go flag-hunting and made a tentative stroke on his par putt. A birdie at the last was too little too late.
Making an early statement. @TonyFinauGolf rolls in another long birdie putt.
He’s tied the lead at 15-under. pic.twitter.com/Dx2K4p1Vok
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 26, 2020
None of the Puerto Rico Open champions have ever won any other event and Finau has been snakebitten since winning the title in 2016. In the last four seasons, he has the most top-10 finishes (30) of any player without a win on Tour – 14 more than Tommy Fleetwood, who’s next on the list.
“They don’t give out second-place trophies, third-place trophies, I’ve learned that the hard way with a lot of them coming early in my career, but I continue to just believe and hope for the best for my future,” Finau said.
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When asked how much this latest result would hurt, Finau said, “There’s a little bit of frustration, but not, you know, not a lot. I hadn’t posted a top-10 before last week since I lost the tough one in Phoenix. So coming off of quarantine, you never know where your game’s going to be. It took me a few weeks to just emotionally be competitive and these last couple weeks have proved that I am.
“Like I said, with these major championships right around the corner, I’m really happy with where my game’s at.”
Finau also confirmed that he hasn’t made a decision about a long-term about his caddie, but has chosen his brother, Gipper, to work for him at the WGC FedEx St. Jude Invitational next week in Memphis and The PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in two weeks.
“I’ll go with somebody I’m comfortable with for the next couple weeks and maybe try somebody starting the (FedEx Cup) Playoffs, but somebody close to me. I’ll have my brother out the next couple weeks and I’ll make a decision after the PGA.”
Finau parted ways with his longtime caddie Greg Bodine after The Memorial and used his swing instructor Boyd Summerhays this week.
Finau, who shot 68, entered the day ranked No. 171 in final-round scoring average, but he’s still left wondering what he has to do end his own victory drought.
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