Cameron Smith is unable to make the long putt on 18, which would have won this tournament. Tony Finau capitalizes in a playoff to win The Northern Trust. (0:31).
Tony Finau was first to hold up a trophy at the Puerto Rico Open at Coco Beach in 2016. Finau has been a top-10 finisher, with eight second-place finishes, and has won a trophy for five years.
Of all active players, Louis Oosthuizen had more runners-up finishes (11) that Finau.
Finau broke the streak by winning the Northern Trust against Cameron Smith on Monday. This was after a rainy weekend that delayed his win an additional day. Finau seemed to be in control of the situation, having hit his approach on 18 to close regulation and Smith making back-to-back birdies going into the last hole.
Finau stated that all she knows is that I am a much better player than I was back then. "I feel like I'm a better player, and it's taken a while to get here. But I also feel like I have to earn everything. You don't get anything and I was able earn this win. And you know, the future looks bright.
Finau claimed that he is playing great golf right this moment -- and he isn't wrong. This season, he has seven top-10 finishes, with two second places.
There have been many prognostications over the last 1,975 days that he would be the next great player in golf. These talks turned into questions about his ability to win tournaments.
The speculation of how many tournaments Finau would win changed to whether he would win again. It can be lonely, and it is easy to get lost in doubt about the possibility of success.
However, a win can change your mind.
"This is an extraordinary experience. Finau stated that while I believed my first one would be my most important, I now believe this one is." It validates the first because of how long it took me to wait. Because of the time I waited, I am a completely different player. It has not been easy."
Finau stated that the greatest factor in his win and perseverance throughout his career was that he never lost sight of himself. He didn't let doubts control him and continued to push forward with the support and encouragement of his family members and the team.
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He said, "It's difficult losing and it is hard losing in public," "I have done it before a few times this year. It made me hungry. It does exactly that. It doesn't make you feel discouraged, but it does make you hungry. I keep hearing you guys say, "When are you going to win again?" It makes me hungry. All of it equals that now is the time to win again. I hope that I won't have to wait five more years for the next one."
The time can be a powerful teacher. A person can either feel the joy and emotions that come from winning, or he may give up and try to adapt.
Finau stated Monday that he worked hard to get himself back in the right place after receiving back-nine thirty. "I believe in myself. That's the bottom line.
Only time will tell if this win propels Finau to more wins, or if it replicates his first win. Finau was able to lift a trophy once again, and is reminded how it feels to be successful on the PGA Tour.
Finau stated, "I've been thinking of that walk up 18 since a long time." It's been many years. It feels good to finally have it and put the second win behind me."
