Tony Finau Wins 3M Open Securing Third PGA Tour Victory
Jul 24, 2022, 3:45 PM | Updated: 3:52 pm
Tony Finau of the United States plays his shot on the 12th hole during the final round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities on July 24, 2022 in Blaine, Minnesota. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Tony Finau has won the 3M Open following a final round of four-under-par to win the 3M Open by five shots. With the win, Finau made $1,350,000.
The victory marked Finau’s third career PGA Tour victory. He last won on Tour at The Northern Trust in August of 2021.
“Really everything I had, every time I looked up I was four or five shots back. I really got going on the back nine and when I took the lead I had a completely different mindset. A few whirly swings down the stretch but I called bank on 18 and was able to get it done,” Finau said immediately following the victory.
The 3M Open Champion, Tony Finau
A thrilling Sunday comeback victory! 🏆 @TonyFinauGolf has won the @3MOpen for his third career title. pic.twitter.com/qsfHDeqqri
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 24, 2022
Finau began the final round 5 shots behind overnight leader Scott Piercy but quickly tracked down those in front of him with a 22-foot birdie roll on the second green. He then hit a cracking iron shot off the tee on the par 3 4th hole that set up a comfortable 8 foot putt for birdie to go two-under on the round.
On the eighth tee box, Finau was still five shots back.
Finau closed the opening nine with an unfortunate bogey and made the turn at just one-under-par. However, Finau was receiving help from those ahead of him as Finau was crumbling under the pressure. Piercy made the turn at even par, but quickly found issues on the back nine. Bogeys on 11, 13, and 15 and added a triple on 14 to drop down the leaderboard.
As Piercy was falling apart, Finau was finding his form. Finau birdied 11, 14, 15, and 16 as he was seemingly making every putt that he stood over.
Finau made over 110 feet worth of putts throughout his final round. The hole was getting bigger and bigger the longer the round went on.
On 17, Finau hit a 6 iron from 197 yards and his ball ricocheted off the gallery and came within inches of finding the water and catapulting back across the green. Luck was on his side.
But by that point in the round, Finau had a five-shot lead. He came close to holing the chip and settled for par before walking proudly to the 18th tee box as chants of “Tony” rang around the golf course.
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Interestingly, Finau pulled out the driver on the 18th tee and proceeded to trickle his tee shot into the water down the right side. He dropped on the fairway, hit an iron down the fairway, his approach landed on the front edge of the green, and two putts later he concluded with a bogey on 18.
Trouble for the leader.
Tony Finau's drive on 18 finds the water. pic.twitter.com/aLCIaZhKib
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 24, 2022
Fortunately, the lost shot on 18 had no barring on the outcome given his four-stroke advantage.
Finau celebrated with a fist pump as the gallery applauded a terrific final round from the tournament’s highest-ranked golfer.
Finau became the sixth player this season to come back from at least five shots back entering the final round.
Nex week, Finau is in the field and is expected to play at the Rocket Mortgage Classic at the Detroit Golf Club.
Presidents Cup Secured
Over the course of Finau’s career, he has managed to finish 2nd on 10 occasions while adding two victories prior to this year’s 3M Open.
The victory at the 3M Open secures his place in the upcoming Presidents Cup, set to take place in September at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina.
