Tony Finau Wins The Northern Trust, Secures Second PGA Tour Victory

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Tony Finau has won his second PGA Tour event after securing victory at Liberty National Golf Club beating Cameron Smith in a playoff at The Northern Trust.

“It feels amazing, it took just about everything I had,” Finau said immediately following the victory. “I fought really hard and it feels amazing to be standing here victorious right now.”

A win worth the wait 🏆@TonyFinauGolf earns his first #FedExCup Playoffs victory @TheNTGolf.

It's the second win of his career and first in 143 starts. pic.twitter.com/AjNM7IMRXg

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 23, 2021

Finau, 31, won his first PGA event in 2016 when he secured the Puerto Rico Open. Since then, he has endured eight-second place finishes.

It had been 1,975 days since Finau last won on the PGA Tour.

His inability to win has been well-publicized. His patience and work ethic are unmatched as he has continued to push forward with the hope of getting over the hump.

Due to Hurricane Henri, the fourth round of The Northern Trust was played today, Monday, August 23rd.

Low Round Of The Day Incoming

Finau began the day two shots behind leaders Rahm and Cameron Smith. However, two quick birdies on holes three and four put Finau in a tie for the lead. He made the turn at one-under-par following a disappointing bogey on eight.

But then, Finau caught fire. He birdied 12, eagled 13, and drained a 30-foot birdie on 14. The shot of the day came on 13 when he stuck his second shot to three feet from 217 yards.

218 yards ➡️ 3 feet@TonyFinauGolf hits a beautiful approach at the par-5 13th.

He has an eagle putt to tie the lead. pic.twitter.com/cG7nA0Qodd

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 23, 2021

Finau began to show nerves when his tee shot on 15 went wayward left but caught a fortunate break as it landed in the fairway of the sixth hole. He ended up making par.

He drove just left of the 16th tee, chipped up onto the green, and made birdie. He was tied for the lead, again, with just two holes to play.

Rahm, on the other hand, found the front lip of the fairway bunker on 15 and was forced to chip out 125 yards short of the green. He ultimately made bogey after pushing a 5-foot par putt wide.

Finau had a one-shot lead with two holes to play.

On 17, Finau missed his 15-foot birdie putt by an inch. While Rahm bladed a simple wedge well over the green on the driveable par 4 16th and had to settle for par.

Rahm was rattled. His drive on 17 was sent into the right rough. Finau, meanwhile, was stuck on the 18th tee box waiting for multiple groups ahead of him to advance.

Smith, who began the day tied for the lead, made a late charge making birdie on 16, and 17 to tie Finau for the lead.

After Finau demolished his drive on 18 down the center of the fairway, his approach shot drifted right and found the greenside bunker. After knocking it out, he left himself with six feet to save par.

At the same time, Smith found the fairway on 18.

Finau made a monster par putt on 18 that ended with a fist pump. A playoff was looming barring anything unforeseen.

Another Playoff

Smith and Finau departed back for the 18th tee. Finau went first and piped one down the middle. Then, the unthinkable occurred when Smith sprayed his tee shot out of bounds right. He hit a provisional that found the right fairway bunker and was forced to chip out with his fourth.

Advantage @TonyFinauGolf.

Cameron Smith's tee shot on the first playoff hole lands out of bounds. pic.twitter.com/ZrIkbstL6s

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 23, 2021

Finau found the green with his approach, two-putted, and secured the victory.

Very few people thought it was going to be possible. Finau defied the odds and proved, yet again, that patience is a virtue.