Tony Finau Seven Shots Back Following Round One At FedEx St. Jude Invitational
Aug 5, 2021, 4:10 PM
(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Tony Finau has entered the clubhouse at TPC Southwind following a first-round score of 69, one-under-par.
Finau currently sits seven shots behind overnight leader Harris English who concluded his opening round at eight-under-par.
Finau teed off the 10th tee to begin his round and did not have to wait long before his first birdie fell. The 11th hole, his second hole, Finau sunk an 8 foot putt for birdie after throwing a dart on the par 3 11th.
We are in for a great week, y'all!
🎟️ https://t.co/K9f2ZWClGI pic.twitter.com/jJsoACJ6Jx
— WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational (@WGCFedEx) August 4, 2021
The following par 3 was troublesome, however, as Finau three-putted from 71 feet on the 14th and had to settle for bogey. But a bounceback birdie on the par 5 16th got Finau back on track.
Although, disaster struck as Finau made the turn following a double bogey on the par 4 18th hole. Finau’s approach shot found the water after he missed the fairway off the tee and left himself with 199 yards out of the rough. After taking a penalty stroke, Finau hit his fourth shot well short of the green, chipped on, and knocked the ball in for double.
He made the turn at one-over-par.
Memphis vibes 🙌🏽 @WGCFedEx pic.twitter.com/ZAI0Q5PYIV
— Tony Finau Golf (@tonyfinaugolf) August 4, 2021
Finau’s back nine did not consist of anything worse than par, instead, he notched two birdies on the sixth and ninth hole to prepare for the second round in the mix. On the final hole of Finau’s opening round, he was able to drain a 13-foot putt for birdie giving him momentum heading into Friday’s round.
Friday will begin at 8:59 a.m. off the first tee. He will be hoping for a low round to bring him back to within a few shots with two rounds remaining.
WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational has not been kind to Finau over the years who missed the cut in his debut in 2018 and ended in a tie for 65 in 2019.