TOM HACKETT
Tony Finau Struggles On Back Nine, Expected To Make US Open Cut
Sep 18, 2020, 11:48 AM | Updated: 11:58 am
Tony Finau of the United States and caddie Mark Urbanek walk the tenth hole during the second round of the 120th U.S. Open Championship on September 18, 2020 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Tony Finau teed off early to begin his second round at the US Open on Friday morning and despite an impressive front nine, he battled the elements on the back nine to finish with a final two-round score of plus two to be in a tie for 29th.
The top 60 players in a field of 156 will make the cut ahead of the weekends play at Winged Foot Golf Club.
Good Start
Finau’s front nine included two birdies and one bogey, all within a three-hole stretch between 13 and 15, and was striking the golf ball well.
#FinauFridays@tonyfinaugolf finds himself three off the lead with plenty of golf still left to play at the #USOpen.
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 18, 2020
Sour Finish
However, when Finau made the turn, the wind started to howl making the fairways harder to hit. Consequently, the greens became much drier producing more roll out when attempting to find pins on the approach shot.
Finau’s back nine began with three consecutive bogeys on holes one, two and three. Two consecutive par’s seemed to settle his nerves on four and five but the bogey train continued on holes six and eight.
His lone birdie on the back nine came on seven. Unfortunately, it was not nearly enough to fill the void of disappointment Finau had following the conclusion of his round.
Par at 9
Tony shot (+3) today
He is +2 for the tournament
— Tony Finau Tracker (@tracker_tony) September 18, 2020
Finau did not put himself in positions to score. Finding the fairway is a must if you hope to compete at Winged Foot Golf Club for the 120th US Open Championship. The long rough makes life incredibly difficult on players as the inconsistency in which the ball flies off the clubface is impossible to judge.
Finau, 31, sits seven shots behind the current leader Justin Thomas who shot a 65 on Thursday. Thomas, however, is in the midst of his second round and as the conditions worsen at Winged Foot he currently sits even through one.
