Tony Finau hits his tee shot off the seventh gap Thursday at British Open Golf on the Royal Liverpool Golf Membership in Hoylake, England, Thursday, July 20, 2023. The Utah native had a tough go issues within the opening spherical. Jon Tremendous, Related Press
Utah’s Tony Finau waits to putt on eighth inexperienced on the primary day of the British Open on the Royal Liverpool Golf Membership in Hoylake, England, Thursday, July 20, 2023. Jon Tremendous, Related Press
Searching for a efficiency that can put him again into rivalry for a spot on america’ Ryder Cup group, Utah’s Tony Finau didn’t get one Thursday as The Open Championship started at Royal Liverpool Golf Membership in Hoylake, England.
Finau shot a 2-over-par 73 within the first spherical and is tied for 66th place on the final main of the season. The previous Salt Lake Metropolis and Lehi resident is hovering close to the reduce line coming into Friday’s second spherical.
He tees off at 2:47 a.m. MDT Friday.
England’s Tommy Fleetwood, novice Christo Lamprecht of South Africa, and Emiliano Grillo of Argentina share the first-round lead at 5-under. Three gamers are at 4-under, together with American Brian Harman.
Tony Finau having to putt it contained in the bunker for a greater angle is what #TheOpen is all about 😂 pic.twitter.com/Men6GyvtuU
— ActionGolfHQ (@ActionGolfHQ) July 20, 2023
Finau bought some tv time Thursday, however not for the precise causes. He knocked his method shot into considered one of Royal Liverpool’s notorious pot bunkers on the par-5 fifth gap and needed to putt his third shot away from the bunker’s steep face as a result of he had no different method of escaping the hazard.
He ended up making bogey, falling again to even-par.
Finau had birdied the opening gap to get to 1-under earlier than the unfortunate break on No. 5.
He made one other bogey on the par-4 tenth after failing to rise up and down from a greenside bunker.
His solely different birdie got here on the par-3 thirteenth when he missed the inexperienced brief and proper, however chipped in from 17 yards for the two on his scorecard.
He made pars on holes 15, 17 and 18, which isn’t optimum as a result of 15 and 18 are par-5s and the long-hitting Finau normally thrives on these longer holes.
He made one other bogey on No. 16 after lacking the green after which finally missed an 11-footer for par.
Finau is at the moment No. 18 within the standings to make the Ryder Cup group for the U.S. The highest six obtain computerized invites, after which there are six captains picks.
Tony Finau with a superb chip-in.
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2023
Take pleasure in extra on the Par-3 channel right now.https://t.co/k7mwPtBaV7pic.twitter.com/U3KOJmTCq0
Having received twice this season, Finau was effectively on his method to making the group, however abruptly he’s struggling — as was the case Thursday in Hoylake.
Finau has historically performed effectively in The Open Championship, having made the reduce in all six earlier appearances.
He has made the reduce in 24 of 29 majors, however that stellar document in golf’s largest occasions is in jeopardy. So is his hope of creating it into the premier group occasion in all of professional golf.
Utah’s Tony Finau waits to putt on eighth inexperienced on the primary day of the British Open on the Royal Liverpool Golf Membership in Hoylake, England, Thursday, July 20, 2023.
Jon Tremendous, Related Press