Tony Finau Stumbles in Masters Opening Round, Faces Uphill Climb

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (AP) — The 89th edition of The Masters kicked off with excitement in Augusta, Georgia, as Utah native Tony Finau made his eighth appearance at the prestigious tournament. After several close finishes in past years, Finau aimed to finally secure a green jacket, but his opening round proved to be a challenging one.

Finau started strong with a par and a birdie, shaking off early jitters. However, his performance quickly took a turn for the worse on holes three and four, where he faced substantial setbacks. After a well-executed drive of 310 yards on the third hole, Finau’s approach shot went awry, resulting in a bogey after he missed a crucial 9-foot putt.

On the par-3 fourth hole, Finau suffered another bogey after three-putting, showcasing the struggles that would define much of his round. A par on the fifth hole provided a brief respite, but the sixth hole proved equally frustrating as his tee shot fell short, leading to yet another bogey.

Despite his rocky start, Finau found his footing on the front nine, turning in an even score after sinking a birdie on the par-4 seventh hole from just two feet out. He maintained that momentum through the eighth hole. However, an unexpected turn of events on the par-3 16th altered his trajectory: his tee shot landed in a precarious position, rolling back into the water and leading to a double bogey.

Finau’s second bogey followed on the par-4 17th, where he pushed his birdie try past the hole and ultimately finished with a +3 for the round. His performance put him in a tie for 66th place, and he now faces a tough battle to make the cut with the second round looming. Currently, Justin Rose leads the tournament at -7 through 15 holes.

Finau’s journey at Augusta has been a mixture of highs and lows. In 2018, his first Master’s outing saw him finish tied for 10th, while 2019 marked his best finish at T-5. Despite accolades, he has struggled to maintain consistent contention, particularly in recent years, including a disappointing T-55 finish last season.

Notably, Finau has made the cut in all seven previous Masters appearances. This resilience suggests that he could leverage his experience to gain a strong footing in the subsequent rounds. The Masters is known for its unpredictable nature, and what’s crucial now is Finau’s ability to shake off the pressure and refocus as he strives to make the cut.

As the tournament continues, Finau’s followers will be eagerly watching to see if he can navigate the challenges presented by Augusta National and draw on his previous successes to propel himself into contention once more.