JERSEY CITY (N.J.) Tony Finau won more than five years of 142 tournaments and won with a strong charge on the back nine. Cameron Smith missed the cut to win the rain-delayed Northern Trust on Monday.
Finau was just three shots behind the leader when he scored a birdie eagle-birdie stretch in Liberty National. This last one was a 30-foot putt over the 14th green. He finished with a 6-under 65.
Smith led a rally with two late birdies. He missed a 25-foot chance to birdie on the 18th, which would have won the tournament. He finished with a score of 67.
This was the closest that the Australian got to winning.
Tony Award Tony Finau finished his 40th top-10 in the last five seasons. This tied him for the fourth-most wins by any player (see below). He doesn't have an egg in his win column anymore: Top 10s Wins Jon Rahm 49 13 Dustin Johnson 41 12 Rory McIlroy 39 6 Tony Finau 40 1- ESPN Stats & Info
Smith's 18th round playoff drive was so wild that it passed the Hudson River retaining wall. Finau had already driven his drive down the fairway and the playoff was effectively ended.
Finau didn't need drama and, more importantly, victory.
Finau won the Puerto Rico Open in spring 2016. Since then, Finau has had eight runner up finishes, three in a playoff and eleven finishes in the top three.
One of the most liked golfers is now at the top of FedEx Cup standings and No. With one week remaining to qualify for the Ryder Cup, 6 is in the Ryder Cup standings. It will be difficult for Steve Stricker, the U.S. captain, to keep him from the team even if he does not make it.
He was the guy who did everything right, but didn't win. Now that burden is lifted.
Finau, who saved par by the bunker with a 6-foot par on the 18th in regulation in order to finish at 20-under 264, only had to play two-putt in the playoff.
He raised his head towards the heavens and flinched his lips in relief.
He said, "It took almost everything I had."
Smith was able to help, as he lost two weeks ago a chance at winning a World Golf Championship after a wild drive on 18th.
Jon Rahm contributed, too.
Even as Finau started his big run, Rahm seemed to be in command all afternoon. The world's No. The world's No. 1 player made no bogey, made birdie on all three par 5s, and threw a wedge into the 3 feet for another birdie.
However, it was quickly undone. Rahm missed a 6-foot par putt on the 15th when his tee shot hit the bunker. He missed a par-4 hole 16th. His pitch was 30 feet from the pin, and he lost an easy birdie.
He missed birdie on the last two holes.
Rahm stated that he was unable to digest the information after his round. "My son made me smile so I'm not in a bad mood," Rahm said after his round.
Other big winners were Keith Mitchell and others on Monday. He was No. He was at No. 101 in the FedEx Cup and only 70 players advance to the BMW Championship. Mitchell was looking for a big finish, and he delivered. Mitchell shot a record 69 to tie for eighth at the 13-under 271.
Mitchell stated that 13 (under) was a good number. Mitchell said, "When I saw the 18 putt, I knew I had to keep it in my head." I was able to hit a fantastic putt.
Tom Hoge began at No. He was ranked 108 and was tied for fourth in the race to advance. This was his best finish of 2011, and it happened at the perfect time, with points counting quadruple.
Alex Noren and Erik van Rooyen were also among those who advanced to the BMW Championship later in this week. Van Rooyen was still in contention on the front nine, until he missed two shots in water on the par-3 11,th. He then made a quadruple-bogey 7.
Finau had always set 20 under as his goal, and Mark Urbanek, Finau's caddie, told him to shoot his best back nine of this year. He managed to shoot 30, which was enough.
As Hurricane Henri approached, the final round was delayed. The edges of what would become a tropical storm at Landfall dumped more rain than 6 inches on Liberty National. The morning was delayed by four hours and spectators were not allowed to attend.
They were unable to attend a show and missed a very popular winner.
