Golf Fans Roar As Sun Rises At Whistling Straits, Finau Waits Patiently For Selection
Sep 24, 2021, 10:24 AM
(Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Golf fans, and more specifically, golf fans of the United States were heard singing Sweet Caroline before the sun came up this morning as they patiently waited around for the opening tee shots of the Ryder Cup.
Yankees hype anthem “sweet caroline” pic.twitter.com/Bs4MryPxGE
— Shane Ryan (@ShaneRyanHere) September 24, 2021
The noise coming from the first tee shot has been loud all morning long. Tee times began as early as 6 a.m. but that did not scare the home faithful from arriving early and making a lot of noise.
Crowd surrounding first hole at Whistling Straits is about 95% USA backers. Very small European contingent. #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/VjisDLhruk
— Rich Rovito (@rrovito) September 24, 2021
Team USA is attempting to regain the Ryder Cup trophy after falling to Europe in 2018 in Paris, France. History favors the USA who has secured 26 victories all-time whereas Europe has only won 14 times.
Tony Finau
Utah’s Tony Finau was not selected by captain Steve Stricker to play during the Friday morning’s fourball competition. He will likely play later this afternoon, however, it is yet to be confirmed or announced who he will play alongside.
Tony Finau out as lead cheerleader. Crowd breaks into chant of T-O-N-Y!! pic.twitter.com/U76jwU1pEN
— Adam Schupak (@AdamSchupak) September 24, 2021
Finau has been selected for his second Ryder Cup, his first being in 2018. He is yet to lose at the Ryder Cup having a 2-1-0 record all time. The 32-year-old enters the event having played some of the best golf of his career throughout the most recent FedEx Cup playoffs. Finau’s form is as good as it has been throughout his professional career.
Whistling Straits plays to the strengths of Finau. It is a long, windy, golf course that forces players to hit accurate irons into greens while having to hit some blind shots as well. Finau is one of the strongest, and most experienced golfers on the USA team and will likely play a pivotal role in regaining the cup.