Tony Finau’s Leadership, Power, To Play Pivotal Role In Upcoming Ryder Cup
Sep 23, 2021, 2:42 PM
Tony Finau of team United States plays his shot from the first tee during practice rounds prior to the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits on September 23, 2021 in Kohler, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Tony Finau is poised to play a key role in hopefully helping the United States of America to a victory over Europe in Wisconsin at Whistling Straits this upcoming weekend.
Finau, 32, enters the event as one of the older players on his team, despite being one of the younger players just three years ago when the United States fell to Europe in Paris.
Subsequently, his role on the team has also changed. Now, Finau is regarded as one of the leaders of the group, one of the players that his teammates look up to which has given Finau a new sense of appreciation for leadership and everything that comes with it.
Fortunately, Finau has exemplified leadership over the course of his entire career. As it has been well-publicized, Finau waited five long years between his first and second PGA Tour victories, but through all of the adversity and heartache, Finau spoke to the media and handled himself with nothing but class.
LIVE now from the 43rd #RyderCup, @tonyfinaugolf https://t.co/Syc5GaEiiO
— Ryder Cup (@rydercup) September 23, 2021
“There is always going to be a winner and a loser at the end of this week, and there are going to be positives to draw from both,” Finau said in his Thursday press conference. “Overcoming adversity, that is something huge. We are going to be able to deal with that if that time comes, but I see a change in culture, I see a change in American teams.”
Advantage Finau
Fortunately, the Whistling Straits golf course offers an advantage for the likes of Finau. It is a long golf course that plays with a links feel. There are multiple blind shots that players must overcome by committing to their lines.
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The wind will also play a pivotal role in how the golf course fairs.
From holes 6 to 13, the holes run up against the coastline of Lake Michigan. The wind will likely be in the face of the players as they maneuver through those holes. Fina believes those are the holes in which he can take advantage of simply due to his length off the tee.
Finau has always been one of the longest drivers of the golf ball. Team USA has some of the bigger hitters in the world with Finau and the likes of Bryson DeChambeau.
Nonetheless, it will take a great deal of energy for the USA to beat Europe at Whistling Straits. The USA is a team buildup of predominantly new Ryder Cup faces. Only 5 of the 12 players on the team have experienced the Ryder Cup in the past, Finau being one of them.
Will the youth, inexperience, and nativity be enough for the USA to regain the heralded Ryder Cup trophy? Only time will tell. But one thing is for certain, the theatre is going to be majestic.
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