Tony Finau Loses The Genesis Invitational In Playoff

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Tony Finau lost to Max Homa in heartbreaking fashion as the local Utah native lost the playoff on the second hole at The Genesis Invitational.

Tony Finau won his first career PGA Tour event on March 27, 2016 when he shot -12 at the Puerto Rico Open at Coco Beach, winning the tournament in a playoff over Steve Marino.

Finau entered the final round of The Genesis Invitational five shots back of the leader at five-under. He finished the round on Sunday at seven-under par. Finau and Max Homa were tied for the lead going into the final hole. The Utah native came away with a par but Homa had a chance to win the tournament after hitting a beautiful fairway shot that came within about 3 feet of the hole.

It looked like an easy putt to make but Homa lipped it on the left side. That sent Homa and Finau into a playoff. Both players played the 10th hole of Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California.

Hometown win for @MaxHoma23. 🏆

The L.A. native wins @TheGenesisInv for his 2nd TOUR title. pic.twitter.com/yOErOJcgrD

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 21, 2021

Playoff Between Tony Finau And Max Homa

Finau’s tee shot made the fairway after bouncing off the rough. Homa hit his shot in the rough and the ball was wedged against a tree.

Homa was able to get the ball onto the green with his second shot. On Finau’s second shot, he nearly made the chip as the ball went just to the left of the hole. Homa’s birdie putt barely missed the hole to the left. With a chance to win the tournament if he nailed the putt, Finau missed it to the right. After tapping it in for par, Finau stayed alive as did Homa after making his par putt.

Tony Finau and Max Homa are headed to a playoff.

📺 | CBS pic.twitter.com/wuYNm3wCPg

— GOLFonCBS (@GOLFonCBS) February 21, 2021

The second playoff hole was on No. 14 par 3. Finau hit his tee shot in the sand, while Homa made it onto the green from the tee box. The Utah native went again and got his ball onto the green from the bunker. Homa had a chance to win the tournament with a 9-foot putt for birdie but missed it short and left. Finau missed the putt to stay alive and he missed it and lost the tournament to Homa.

Third Round For Tony Finau

The third round of action was suspended on Saturday night due to darkness. When that happened, Finau was finished with his round but others had to go early on Sunday to wrap up the third round.

Finau shot a one-under 70 in the third round. He started with an eagle on the first hole before getting a bogey on the following hole. Then he made par on the next three holes before another bogey made the scorecard. Finau wrapped up the front nine with pars on Nos. 7 and 8, followed by a bogey on No. 9. He went one-over on the first nine holes.

On the back nine, Finau scored a birdie on No. 10, eagle on the 11th hole and bogey on No. 12. He went on to finish the back nine with six straight pars to go two-under.

For the round, Finau had two eagles, one birdie, 11 pars and four bogeys. Finau entered the final round tied for fifth place and four shots back of the leader.

The next PGA Tour event will be the WGC-Workday Championship at the Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida. It will take place from February 25-28. Only 8 more events until the Masters.