19th Hole
Tony Finau shows off dramatic swing change at Tournament of Champions
Golfers never seem to stop tinkering.
Last season we saw many of the top players make small, or dramatic changes, to their game, with one or two, such as three-time major winner Jordan Spieth receiving much comment from social media users.
One of the most popular members of the PGA Tour, Tony Finau, took five years between his first and second tour victories but made up for it in 2022, when going back-to-back at the 3M Open and Rocket Mortgage Classic and then winning again in Houston just 10 weeks later.
In the best shape of his career, the 33-year-old led the tee-to-green stats for both his wins, finding a staggering 16.5 and 14 shots on the field respectively, whilst he was also into double figures for his latest victory.
Top that with his best-ever putting spell, positive figures for all but two of his last 15 completed starts, and Finau might finally achieve what many have believed he could do for a few years.
With that in mind, there was always going to be plenty of comment when he recently posted a video on his Instagram account, showing what looks like a dramatic swing change.
Golf writer Mark Harris was one of many that tweeted the video, asking why a player with three wins, two runner-up places and four further top 10s would amend his stance and swing.
Is Tony Finau going thru a swing change?
Seems odd given how great he’s been the last handful of months.
Three wins and two other Top 10’s in his last seven starts. pic.twitter.com/FPPeSosaZz
— Mark Harris (@itismarkharris) January 3, 2023
Interesting.. pic.twitter.com/zv63AP9R7S
— Travis Fulton (@travisfulton) January 3, 2023
Maybe Finau is trying something new for this week’s Tournament of Champions, an event he has never got to grips with, with just one top-10 on debut his best from three outings but, as Dan Rapaport tweeted, he certainly seems happy enough with life and may not be as worried as some fans that commented on the clip.
Tony Finau organized a Finau vs. Summerhays two-day family match. They played 18 at the Bay Course yesterday after Tony practiced…and they’re doing it again today after Tony’s pro-am.
That’s a 27-hole and a 36-hole day before the tournament starts. Tony Finau is a golf guy. pic.twitter.com/Bx4LkOo1fb
— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) January 4, 2023
With that weight of expectation off his shoulders, Finau can now look forward to stepping up at the majors.
It all looks like a decisive move by player and coach Boyd Summerhays. With The Masters arriving in three months, he has already been well backed to at least match his two top-10s and a best of 5th at Augusta.
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According to Josh Carpenter of Sports Business Journal, last week’s Open Championship suffered its lowest television rating in almost a decade.
NBC and Peacock drew 3.39M viewers on Sunday for Xander Schauffele’s two-shot win in @TheOpen, down 4% from last year and Brian Harman.
That’s the lowest number for the final round since Zach Johnson’s win in 2015, which finished on a Monday on ESPN (cable) pic.twitter.com/9r7guxnfx1
— Josh Carpenter (@JoshACarpenter) July 23, 2024
The final round was down four percent from Brian Harman’s win in 2023 at Royal Liverpool, which offered very little drama down the stretch. It was the lowest-rated final round since Zach Johnson’s win in 2015 at St. Andrews: and that was a Monday finish.
Stars such as Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland all missed the cut, which may have contributed to the lack of interest from casual golf fans.
This year, the Masters and The Open have decreased in ratings while the PGA Championship and U.S. Open saw an uptick. It’s fair to speculate whether the inclusion of Bryson DeChambeau deep into contention had an impact.
More from the 19th Hole
- Shane Lowry says this prevalent criticism surrounding Rory McIlroy ‘makes his blood boil’
- Brandel Chamblee on why he feels Rory’s game ‘deteriorates in the biggest moments‘
- Tiger Woods aims brutal dig at Colin Montgomerie
New here?
While you’re here, check out BK’s look at Xander’s Open-winning WITB.
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19th Hole
‘That looks brutal’ – First photo of Tiger Woods’ leg without sleeve shows depth of injury
It’s been a struggle of late for Tiger Woods on the golf course. The 15-time major champion has only teed it up five times in 2024, finishing 60th in The Masters and missing the cut in the other three majors. He also played in the Genesis Invitational and was forced to withdraw.
Woods has many ailments, but none as debilitating as his surgically repaired leg. Since his car accident three years ago, the 48-year-old has rarely been seen without wearing a leg sleeve. However, on Monday, a fan was able to take a photograph of Woods’ leg without the sleeve.
@blakebunkersgolf IG
??? #LOOK: A photo has emerged of Tiger Woods without his leg sleeve @TWlegion
(Via: blakebunkersgolf/IG) pic.twitter.com/ppaGLdXg8X
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 22, 2024
The photo was taken at an event Tiger’s son, Charlie, was playing in by “blakebunkersgolf” on Instagram, and one of the top responses on X towards the photo was simply “That looks brutal.”
Woods has struggled with the lack of reps on the course but hasn’t given any indication as to whether his schedule will look any different come 2025.
More from the 19th Hole
- Shane Lowry says this prevalent criticism surrounding Rory McIlroy ‘makes his blood boil’
- Brandel Chamblee on why he feels Rory’s game ‘deteriorates in the biggest moments‘
- Tiger Woods aims brutal dig at Colin Montgomerie
New here?
While you’re here, check out BK’s look at Xander Schauffele’s winning WITB.
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John Daly withdrew at last week’s Open Championship with a knee injury, but the 58-year-old was back on the links this week showcasing one of the most famous golf courses in the world for his fans.
While at Trump Turnberry, John Daly recorded a video of the 18th green.
In the video, the 1995 Open Champion shared his opinion that Turnberry is the best golf course in Scotland, even better than St. Andrews.
?????????? #BEST OF THE BEST — John Daly says Trump Turnberry beats out St Andrews for the title of best golf course in Scotland.
Do you agree?
(Via: @LGlick1) pic.twitter.com/Ya7FIJEfp2
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 22, 2024
“Hey everybody, John Daly here. I’m at Trump Turnberry today. I went out and tried to play a little bit. This place is amazing. It is the best golf course in Scotland, I think. St. Andrews is my baby, but I think I just found my new baby. I’m at the 18th green right here, this thing is unreal.”
Turnberry hosted its first Open Championship in 1977, which was dubbed “The Duel in the Sun” when Tom Watson beat Jack Nicklaus by a single stroke. The most recent Open the course hosted was 2009, where Watson almost won again, but lost to Stewart Cink in a playoff.
The course is not slated to host any Open Championships in the foreseeable future.
More from the 19th Hole
- Shane Lowry says this prevalent criticism surrounding Rory McIlroy ‘makes his blood boil’
- Brandel Chamblee on why he feels Rory’s game ‘deteriorates in the biggest moments‘
- Tiger Woods aims brutal dig at Colin Montgomerie
New here?
While you’re here, check out BK’s look at Xander Schauffele’s winning WITB.
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